Physical Therapy

WHAT IS PT?

A healthcare profession concerned with the rehabilitation of impairments and disabilities incurred as a result of disease or injury. PT’s take a thorough history and provide a physical examination to diagnose and establish a plan of care focused on the alleviation of pain, improvement of range of motion, strength, balance, and endurance to achieve the optimum level of comfort and functional mobility.

HOW DO PT’s TREAT? Therapeutic exercise Neuromuscular Reeducation Therapeutic Activities Gait Training Modalities

• electric stimulation
• ultrasound
• moist heat/ice

Manual techniques

• soft tissue massage
• myofascial release
• manipulation/mobilization

WHAT CONDITIONS DO PT’s TREAT? Gait Training Orthopedic

• Joint replacements
  • total knee replacement
  • total hip replacement
  • total shoulder replacement
• Arthritis
• Fractures
• Ligamentous/Muscle injuries

Neurologic

• CVA (stroke)
• MS (multiple sclerosis)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Neuropathy
• SCI (spinal cord injury)
• TBI (traumatic brain injury)
• ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)

Cardiopulmonary

• CHF (congestive heart failure)
• MI (heart attack)
• COPD (emphysema, chronic bronchitis)

General deconditioning
Amputee

• BKA (below knee)
• AKA (above knee)
• Upper extremity