A physical therapist is a trained professional who works in conjunction with doctors and other healthcare providers to help restore function and the use of injured body parts that involve the musculoskeletal system. Restoring quality of life, mobility and reducing pain and stiffness is the primary focus of a physical therapist's job.
Expertise
A trained and certified physical therapist knows how the musculoskeletal system functions, offering you the benefit of his medical knowledge when it comes to assessing your condition and creating an optimal treatment and therapy rehabilitation program to treat your injury or joint or muscle damage. The therapist will understand the best tools, equipment and technologies as well as treatment methods and practices that help promote strength, range of motion and stability of injured joints, bones and muscles.
Improved Function
A physical therapist helps restore coordination, range of motion of joints and improves joint or muscle strength and stamina. The therapist helps people with different conditions and injuries learn to stand, sit and walk through gradual therapies that restore balance and stability. The physical therapist may also help prevent contractures in paralyzed or bed-ridden patients through the performance of passive range-of-motion exercise, which also helps reduce spasticity, or muscle spasms caused by neuromuscular conditions and disease processes such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis.
Methods
A physical therapist knows how to utilize the best treatment method or technique to treat your injury or condition. Common physical therapies include manual therapy, or hands-on joint mobilization, soft tissue massage and muscle stretching. She may also offer hot or cold modalities, which involve the use of ice or heat to not only relieve pain and stiffness but to warm muscles or cool them down before or after a therapy session. Conditioning and strengthening techniques focus on restoring function and use to damaged or diseased body areas for greater joint support and health.
Licensure
A physical therapist undergoes in-depth and focused training in the field of therapy. Upon completion of training sponsored by schooling environments approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education, or CAPTE, the therapist takes required exams and competency demonstrations. Upon passing, the therapist is licensed by state regulatory boards. Currently, the only states that don't require licenses are Hawaii and Colorado. A physical therapist's license must be renewed regularly. To stay up to date in regard to treatments and methods, the physical therapist must also engage in continuing education and professional development courses that ensure his continued licensure.
