October is National Physical Therapy Month. So please take the opportunity this month to give your favorite PT a call, write him or her a quick letter or drop off some homemade cookies (everybody loves cookies) for the staff and let them know how Physical Therapy has impacted your daily life.
For those of you who have not required physical therapy, let us tell you little about our profession. Physical Therapy, also known simply as PT, is defined by Wikipedia as “the provision of services to people and populations, to develop, maintain, and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan.” Physical Therapy can be beneficial to many individuals, whether you have an injury or you just need some up-keep (posture) for your body. Many people ask “what exactly is a physical therapist?” Physical therapists are like mechanics for your body. Most physical therapists hold Masters and/or Doctorate degrees specific to understanding the anatomy and physiology of the human body, figuring out what is working correctly; what isn’t; and how to get the “broken” things working as well as possible, allowing you to live a normal life. Physical therapists however are not just restoring your physical health, but they are also helping to restore your sense of well-being. When an individual is in pain, experiencing an injury, or afflicted by a developing disease or condition, it often can change their entire life. This can result in not being able to do some activities that were once a part of everyday life. As we all know, this can lead to a variety of emotional states, including depression, frustration, anxiety just to name a few. As a person regains their strength, movement and flexibility through the treatment plan developed with your physical therapist, people frequently begin to regain a sense of control over their lives, improving our sense of well-being.
There are many conditions that can be treated by physical therapists and there are different tools used to treat different conditions. Physical Therapy can treat many different diagnoses such as: neck injuries, back injuries, shoulder injuries, hip injuries, knee injuries, work related injuries, and most any other injury to the body. Physical Therapy is also used to treat many chronic problems such as headaches, fibromyalgia, arthritis, tendonitis, and many others. One of the benefits of physical therapy is that it is a form of treatment aimed at treating the cause of the problem. This can often enable individuals to take control of their symptoms,rather than being controlled by those symptoms, or just covering them up with medications or surgery. Life brings about many challenges and difficulties, and we must learn the best ways to cope and deal with these trying situations. Physical Therapy is a proactive way to help deal with physical limitations and other issues encountered throughout life.
There are several different treatment approaches used among physical therapists. At Elite Physical Therapy, we utilize a hands-on approach to healing, also known as manual therapy. Current research is reporting that manual therapy techniques are among the most effective physical therapy techniques to help you recover from an injury, disease, or any pain you are experiencing. When you are referred to one of our clinics, you will meet with one of our therapists who will perform your initial evaluation. The evaluation is an opportunity for you and your therapist to discuss your injury or condition and what goals you hope to accomplish over the course of treatment. During this conversation, your therapist will also be evaluating the underlying causes of the physical limitations you are experiencing. From this physical evaluation and discussion, your therapist will build a treatment plan aimed at treating the specific causes of your condition, helping you achieve your goals. Open communication is a key ingredient to your treatment. Through open communication with your physical therapist, he or she can make adjustments to your treatment plan based on your feedback to accomplish your goals quickly and safely. Your therapy sessions may include several different techniques, including joint mobilization/manipulations, deep tissue massage, myofascial release, therapeutic exercise, iontophoresis, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound.
At Elite Physical Therapy, our patients are seen on a one to one basis by the same therapist. We schedule one patient per session, per therapist. This allows you to have the full attention of your therapist while building a solid working relationship. Treatment typically last about six weeks depending on your individual condition. Getting you to your established goals is our priority.
For more information about physical therapy in general you can visit the The American Physical Therapy Association website (www.apta.org)
Happy National Physical Therapy Month. Please thank your physical therapists and staff for their hard work and remember… everyone loves cookies!