Following extensive assessment and diagnosis of a disease or disability, physical therapy seeks to rehabilitate the body through movement and touch. Exercise is a crucial element in physical therapy and can be used to restore range of motion and basic functions like standing, walking and grasping. Massage is another mainstay of physical therapy, since tension, swelling and poor circulation can inhibit healing.

Patients of physical therapy include accident victims and sufferers of debilitating conditions such as strokes, lower back pain, head injuries, heart disease and cerebral palsy. The aim of the therapy is to improve an individual's ability to function in his or her day-to-day life. In addition to the rehabilitation of those already injured, the therapy also seeks to prevent injuries and disabilities through education about fitness and health.

Physical therapy began as a recognized profession during World War I. To answer the overwhelming need for rehabilitation of wounded military personnel, the Surgeon General's office formed the division of special hospitals and physical reconstruction. The employees of this division were known as "reconstruction aides" and only later called physical therapists.

Today, physical therapy is generally considered a conventional (rather than alternative) form of medicine that strives to ensure that a person can engage in daily life as comfortably and independently as possible.

Common 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. Arthritis, balance disorders, osteoporosis, cancer, joint replacement, incontinence and Alzheimer's disease are just some of the problems dealt with in geriatric physical therapy. A geriatric physical therapist will devise a specialized program to help restore mobility and balance, increase fitness levels and reduce pain.

Orthopedics
Orthopedics focuses on disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedics can also help patients heal after bone and muscle surgeries. Joint mobilizations, strength training, hot or cold packs and electrical stimulation are the most common methods of orthopedic rehabilitation.

Neurological Physical Therapy
Neurological physical therapy is one treatment path for patients with a neurological disorder or disease—such as Alzheimer's, cerebral palsy, brain injuries, strokes, spinal cord injuries and Parkinson's. Therapists help patients to restore abilities or to learn how to function with the effects of the disease, like vision loss, poor balance, paralysis and more.

Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy
Cardiopulmonary physical therapy helps patients with heart or lung problems. Whether a patient is recovering from cardiac or pulmonary surgery or suffering from a cardiopulmonary disorder, CPT can help increase patient endurance and physical independence. Manual therapy is often used in this area to help clear lung secretions of patients with cystic fibrosis.

Common Treatment Techniques

Exercise
Exercise is almost always a central part of a physical therapy program. An exercise regimen is prescribed specifically to treat the patient's problem and restore function. Depending on the issue, possible exercises range from lifting weights to riding stationary bikes to isometrics.

Manual Techniques
Manual techniques treat musculoskeletal diseases and disorders. This type of therapy—which uses one's hands without the assistance of machines—starts with the assessment of joints (for alignment and mobility) and the muscles across these joints (for balance and strength). Subsequent treatment might include stretching, therapeutic massage, joint mobilization or myofascial release (which helps stretch neck and shoulder muscles and improves range of motion while relieving pain). The goal of manual physical therapy is to reduce pain and restore movement.

Electrotherapy
Electrotherapy refers to the use of an electric current to stimulate tissue and restore lost function. An increasingly common, yet controversial, form of electrotherapy is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). This is used to relieve pain, but its effectiveness is a source of debate.

Taping and Bracing
Taping and bracing can be used in sports, either to provide support for weakened limbs or to prevent injuries. Another type of taping and bracing refers to the protection and rehabilitation of the spine, giving the patient a better sense of proper back or neck position. A simple piece of tape on the back or chest can give a patient immediate feedback on whether he is slouching or overlifting his chest, for example.

Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is water-submerged exercise or the use of water to heal and care for injured soft tissues. Water is beneficial to healing for many reasons: It can store and carry heat, help blood flow and take the weight off painful joints while offering resistance.

Credentials

M.P.T. (Also the D.P.T.)
After an undergraduate experience heavy in the sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, for example), physical therapy students obtain either a Master of Physical Therapy or a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. The master's degree takes roughly two years to complete, and the doctorate requires another one or two semesters. Today, most physical therapy graduate programs offer the D.P.T. only, which is becoming a popular option since it doesn't require much more time than the M.P.T. All states then require potential physical therapists to pass a licensure exam before they can practice. In addition, physical therapists have the option of pursuing board certification in one of seven specialty areas: orthopedic, pediatric, neurological, electrophysiological, geriatric and cardiopulmonary.

Last Reviewed: May 12, 2006
Last Reviewed By: Katie Gilbert