What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy, also called Physiotherapy in many English-speaking countries, provides a service to individuals and populations to develop maintain and restore maximum movement and functionality throughout ones lifespan. This includes providing services in circumstances where movement and functionality have been threatened by aging, injury, disease or environmental factors. Functional movement is key to what it means to be healthy.
Physical therapy will be concerned with identifying and maximizing the quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment and intervention, habilitation and rehabilitation. This encompasses physical, psychological, emotional, and social well being, to name just a few. Physical therapy does involve the interaction between physical therapist (PT), patients and clients, other health professionals, families, caregivers, and communities in a process where movement potential is assessed and goals have been agreed upon, using the knowledge and skills that are unique to physical therapists. Physical therapy is performed by either a physical therapist (PT) or an assistant (PTA) acting on behalf and under their direction.
Physical therapy has many different specialties to including cardiopulmonary, geriatrics, neuralgic, orthopedic and pediatrics to name some of the more common areas. Physical Therapists practice in many kinds of settings, such as outpatient clinics or offices, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, extended care facilities, homes, education or research centers, schools, hospices, industrial workplaces and other occupational environments, fitness centers as well as sports training facilities.
Article Source: Chicago Physical Therapy
