Career Spotlight: Physical Therapy

Image reused with permission from occupational therapist

Image reused with permission from

Sports Physical therapy is a healthcare specialty that includes the evaluation, assessment, and treatment of individuals who are actively engaged in sports but have experienced limitations in functional mobility. In general, physical therapy services are provided by physical therapists (PTs), who are professionals licensed by the state in which they work. Physical therapists are required to have a master’s degree or a clinical doctorate degree from an accredited schools for physical therapy and must sit for a licensing exam to practice.

According to Medilexicon’s medical dictionary, physical therapy is:

  1. The treatment of pain, disease, or injury by physical means.
  2. The profession concerned with promotion of health, with prevention of physical disabilities, with evaluation and rehabilitation of persons disabled by pain, disease, or injury, and with treatment by physical therapeutic measures as opposed to medical, surgical, or radiologic measures.

Physical therapy is a clinical health science. It is not considered as an alternative therapy.  Physical therapists study medical science subjects, including anatomy, neuroscience and physiology in order to acquire the health education needed for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, etc., of patients with physical problems. See Doctor Finder.

This is a post is authored by our guest Patricia Wray who is a registered physical therapist. You may read her other works such as Car Accident Articles and What is an Occupational Therapist. Ms. Wray shares her knowledge by regularly writing articles that would help furthering careers. Her passion for her field makes her work harder and fine new ways to improve the craft. . Her views may not necessarily be reflective of the views of this site’s owners.

 

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In different countries, a physical therapist must be fully qualified and registered by law. To become a registered physical therapist, he/she must have graduated from thebest physical therapy schoolsor a health science university degree that included a physical therapy program.  In order for you to know which school is best for you, check out the top physical therapy schools in your area.

The physical therapist works in hospitals, general practice or primary care medicine practices, and the community.

A qualified physical therapist is an expert in the examination and treatment of people with cardiothoracic, musculoskeletal and neuromuscular diseases; focusing on conditions and problems that inhibit patients’ abilities to move and function effectively.

Physical therapists use their training and skills to treat a wide range of physical problems linked to different systems in the body, including:

  • Neuromuscular systems – concerned with both nerves and muscles. Nerves include the brain, spine and nerves throughout the body. Neuromuscular refers to neuromuscular junction – where nerves and muscle fibers meet, and also includes neuromuscular transmission – the transfer of information, impulses, from the nerve to the muscle.
  •  Musculoskeletal systems – an organ system that gives us the ability to move using our muscles and bones (muscular and skeletal systems). The musculoskeletal system gives us form, movement and stability. The musculoskeletal system includes our bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints, and other connective tissue.
  •  Cardiovascular systems – include the heart and the circulatory systems. The circulatory system carries nutrients and oxygen via blood vessels to the tissues of the body and removes waste and carbon dioxide from them.
  • Respiratory systems – include organs that are involved in breathing, such as the lungs, bronchi, trachea, larynx, throat, and nose.

The physical therapist works hand in hand  with doctors, nurses, dentists, teachers, social workers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and parents or caregivers. They keep  notes on the patient’s progress, carries out periodic examinations, and adapts treatment along the way as required.

To decrease pain, stiffness, improve motion and strength, and improve mobility, physical therapists use many different techniques to help.  They make use of  heat, ice, ultrasound, or electrical. Manual techniques are often used to help improve mobility. For additional information click here and use this website.

 

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