If you've experienced an injury or illness that makes daily tasks challenging, your doctor may suggest physical therapy (PT). This type of care aims to ease pain and help you function, move, and live better. Physical therapy can benefit people of all ages and treat a variety of health problems.
You may need physical therapy to:
Relieve pain
Improve movement or ability
Prevent or recover from a sports injury
Prevent disability or surgery
Rehab after a stroke, accident, injury, or surgery
Work on balance to prevent a slip or fall
Manage a chronic illness like diabetes, heart disease, or arthritis
Recover after you give birth
Control your bowels or bladder
Adapt to an artificial limb
Learn to use assistive devices like a walker or cane
Get a splint or brace
Physical therapists, also known as PTs or physiotherapists, are licensed health professionals with specific graduate training in physical therapy. As of 2016, to be eligible to sit for the national exam, you need to graduate from an accredited higher educational institution with a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree and pass an additional state exam to earn a license.
PTs evaluate your condition and develop a care plan that guides your therapy. They may perform hands-on treatments for your symptoms and teach you special exercises to help you move and function better. In most states, you can go directly to a physical therapist without a referral from your doctor, but check your insurance policy to see if you need a prescription to cover the cost.
At your first therapy session, your PT will examine and assess your needs. They'll ask questions about your pain or other symptoms, your ability to move or do everyday tasks, how well you sleep, and your medical history. The objective is to determine a diagnosis of your condition, why you have the condition, including impairments that either caused or are a result of the condition, and then develop a plan of care to address each.
The PT will administer tests to measure:
How well you can move around, reach, bend, or grasp
How well you walk or climb steps
Your heartbeat or rhythm while active
Your posture or balance
Then, they'll work with you to create a treatment plan that includes your personal goals, like functioning and feeling better, plus exercises or other treatments to help you reach them. Your treatments might include:
Exercises or stretches guided by your therapist
Massage, heat, or cold therapy, warm water therapy, or ultrasound to ease muscle pain or spasms
Rehab to help you learn to use an artificial limb
Practice with gadgets that help you move or stay balanced, like a cane or walker
Your therapist will watch your progress and adjust your treatments as necessary. You can do the exercises your therapist teaches you at home between sessions to help you stay on track and improve your fitness.
Physical therapists work in various settings, including:
Hospitals
Outpatient clinics
Sports medicine centers
Private medical offices
Nursing homes
Assisted living homes
Rehab centers
Offices and work sites
Schools or colleges
Your home
Physical therapy can help you feel better and improve your ability to perform daily tasks. If you're experiencing pain or limited mobility, talk to your doctor about whether physical therapy is right for you. To learn more about physical therapy and how it can benefit your health, visit the American Physical Therapy Association, WebMD, or Mayo Clinic websites.
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