Types
Physical therapy can be done in many different ways, so therapists may choose to focus on one type of treatment. They include:
Orthopedic physical therapy: This treats musculoskeletal injuries, involving the muscles, bones, ligaments, fascia, and tendons. You can use it for injuries such as bursitis or tendinitis, fractures and chronic conditions. The treatment may include manual therapy, joint mobilizations and strength training.
Geriatric therapy: This treatment can assist older adults with conditions that impair mobility and their physical function. This intervention is designed to improve mobility, decrease pain and enhance physical fitness.
People with certain cardiopulmonary conditions or surgical procedures may benefit from cardiovascular rehabilitation. It can help increase cardiovascular endurance and stamina.
Wound therapy: It can ensure that the wound heals properly and receives adequate blood supply through increased circulation. Manual therapies, estim, compression therapy and wound care are all possible options for physical therapy.
Vestibular treatment: This is used to address balance difficulties that could be caused inner ear conditions. There are a variety of manual exercises that vestibular physical therapists can use to assist patients in regaining their coordination and balance.
Decongestive therapy: This is a treatment that drains accumulated fluid from patients suffering from lymphedema or other fluid conditions.
Rehabilitation of the pelvic floor: This is a treatment that can treat pelvic floor conditions such as: Urinary urgency or incontinence; fecal or bladder problems or injuries to the pelvic floor.
What You Can Expect
A physical therapist helps take care of patients in all phases of healing, from initial diagnosis to restorative and preventive stages of recovery. It can be used as an independent option or alongside other treatment options.
Patients may be referred to a therapist by their doctors, or they can seek out therapy on their own.
According to World Confederation for Physical Therapy a physical therapy professional receives training to enable them to:
conduct a physical exam and evaluation of a person's movement, therapies flexibility, muscle and joint motion, and performance, including finding out about their health history
Make a comprehensive diagnosis and provide a prognosis. Also, create a treatment plan that includes short-term and longer-term goals.
Provide physical therapy treatments and interventions
give self-management recommendations, including exercises a person can do at home
Physical therapy may also include:
Electrical stimulation (e-stim): There are two types of e-stim. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduces pain. In contrast, neuromuscular stimulation uses electrical stimulation to stimulate the muscles motor units. This improves muscle engagement.
Special lights and lasers are used to treat medical conditions with light therapy.
