What is Physical Therapy, anyway?

Physical Therapy is an integral part of the healthcare system, in which conservative care is provided to people with musculoskeletal diseases and/or physical pain or limitations due to any number of reasons. Physical Therapists (PTs) or Doctors of Physical Therapy (DPTs) are trained and licensed movement experts (APTA), who diagnose and treat a range of injuries, disabilities, and health conditions (Medical News Today). The goal of Physical Therapy is to improve a person’s quality of life by increasing their body's range of motion/flexibility and strength, to prevent further injury or disability (Medical News Today).

PTs treat patients in a variety of settings (ranging from hospitals, government agencies, nursing homes/hospices, sports teams, grade schools, universities, private outpatient clinics, doctor's offices, or even in a patient's home). Although it is typical to be referred to physical therapy by a Medical Doctor, it is possible in some states to see a Physical Therapist directly, without a referral. A person should seek Physical Therapy when they notice pain and or limitations in their body that affects how they function. For example if pain in your joints such as shoulder, knee, hip, spine, ankle, wrists, or even fingers/toes, change the way you are able to comfortably walk, sit, reach, move, sleep, work, or exist - this is the time to seek a PT consultation or evaluation. If you do not have pain, but have been noticing a difference in how your body functions, for example, decreased tolerance for physical activities/chores, feeling off-balanced, dizzy, short of breath, confused, or having falls, a DPT would be able to guide you safely back to normalcy.

Physical Therapy has been around for ages, dating back to as early as 3000BCE (Lisowski). In the United States, physical therapy began around WWI in 1921 by women working as "restorative aides" to help rehabilitate injured soldiers (PCET). Since then, becoming a PT/DPT now requires extensive schooling at a doctorate level to accurately assess, diagnose, and treat a person's physical impairments. The course of action towards physical therapy rehab depends on a number of factors, including but not limited to; a person's medical history, the timeframe of injury/disease, co-morbidities, a person's physical abilities and or psychosocial factors, support system/living environment, and a person's ability to participate in their course of physical therapy treatment.

Not all PTs and DPTs are created equally. While all have graduated from a Physical Therapy school with extensive training on general PT practice, some PTs/DPTs further their expertise by getting credentialed in certain areas of Physical Therapy rehab practices. Because physical therapy is helpful for a myriad of physical issues, PTs/DPTs can specialize in certain regions to provide a higher level of care. PT specialties range from sports conditioning and recovery, neurological issues such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), strokes, and spinal cord injuries (SCI), women's health issues such as pre and post partum pain, incontinence and prolapse, orthopedic experts for assistance in rehabilitation from hip, knee, or shoulder replacements, chronic low back pain, arthritis pain, or ergonomic specialists who aid factory and desk workers to perform their job duties with the most effective posture. It is important to note your physical therapy experience will be determined not only with how well you comply, but also with how much your therapist is able to help you understand the source of your issue and the direction they take to assist in physical healing.

If you ever had a physical therapist that was unsuccessful in helping you get out of pain, I strongly encourage you to find a different therapist with different credentials. Most of the time when I have a patient tell me Physical Therapy did not work for them in the past, it was due to lack of proper education on the therapist's part, and/or lack of compliance on the patient's part. I am biased to believe physical therapy can help with a large amount of people's physical issues, but I am not saying physical therapy will help with everything. Always consult with your physician if you are trying to decide what is the best step towards alleviating discomfort in your body (but be weary if your physician does not mention PT or completely shuts it down....he or she might not have your best interests in hand). If you do not have a physician to consult with, find yourself a great PT or DPT because 9 times out of 10, the PT/DPT can get you results faster than the physicians =)

References:

1. APTA. What Physical Therapists Do. https://www.apta.org/your-career/careers-in-physical-therapy/becoming-a-pt

2. Medical News Today. How Can Physical Therapy Help? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160645

3. Lisowski, Naomi. The History of Physical Therapy. https://www.ptprogress.com/history-of-physical-therapy/

4. PCET (Pain Consultants of East Tennessee). The History of Physical Therapy in the US. https://painconsultants.com/2135-2/