Therapy and Care

Physical therapy is a health care profession that provides treatment to individuals to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and function throughout life. This includes providing treatment in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by aging, injury, disease or environmental factors.

Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment/intervention, habilitation and rehabilitation. This encompasses physical, psychological, emotional, and social well being. It involves the interaction between physical therapist (PT), patients/clients, other health professionals, families, care givers, and communities in a process where movement potential is assessed and goals are agreed upon, using knowledge and skills unique to physical therapists. Physical therapy is performed by either a physical therapist or an assistant acting under their direction.

Following an injury, a body part is often too damaged to get better on its own, but not so damaged as to require operation. In such cases, the doctor will prescribe physical therapy so your injured body part can heal itself over time through the right movements and treatments.

In addition to having you do therapeutic exercises that will gradually strengthen the injured body part, physical therapists may also use massage, ultrasound, heat, ice, and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) to help you recover. The exercises your physical therapist will have you do may include lifting weights, riding an exercise bike, stretching, and resistance training using rubber bands. The physical therapist will also likely massage your joints and muscles to help improve balance, strength, alignment, and mobility.

There are types of Physical Therapy

Pediatric Physical Therapy

Pediatric physical therapy assists in the early detection of health problems among infants, children and adolescents. Treatments often seek to improve gross and fine motor skills, strength, cognitive functioning and balance.

Geriatric Physical Therapy

Geriatric physical therapy generally focuses on older adults, but also covers normal aging issues.

Orthopedics

Orthopedics focuses on disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedics can also help patients heal after bone and muscle surgeries.

Neurological Physical Therapy

Neurological physical therapy is one treatment path for patients with a neurological disorder or disease.

Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy

Cardiopulmonary physical therapy helps patients with heart or lung problems.