What is Physical Therapy?
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a non-invasive practice to help individuals develop, maintain, and restore body movements and physical functioning. Physical therapy helps the patients recover injuries, relieve pain, prevent further damage, or deal with a chronic condition. It is applicable at any stage of life, with the ultimate goal of improving health and quality of life.
Physical Therapy is a medical speciality including assessment,y evaluation, and treatment of individuals with limitations in their functional mobility.
To become a physical therapist, one requires proper training and relevant education in anatomy, biology, physical fitness and kinesiology. Physical therapists also receive substantial training in inpatient psychology to understand and help the clients better cope with their emotional challenges associated with the physical ailment.
What is a Physical Therapist :
Physical therapist structures the treatment plan of patients by evaluating physical examination and history taking. This treatment plan includes monitoring healing progress by guiding the patient about gradually modified exercises for support and medical prescription.
Physical therapists are experts who improve the quality of life by prescribing hands-on-care patient education and prescribed exercises. They diagnose and treat patients of all ages, from newborn to old people (having movement problems due to injuries and disabilities), by developing a treatment plan to improve their ability to move, manage pain, and prevent disability.
Additionally, physical therapists also care for people who want to be healthier to prevent future problems by helping them achieve fitness goals, regaining or maintaining their independence so they can lead active lives.
The types of impairments with which professionals in this field deals encompass joint mobility, the balance of the body, flexibility, pain, neurological functioning, cardiac functioning, physical strength, range of motion, pulmonary function and overall functional mobility.
What does a PT do :
Gathering information about the injury or illness of the client, the physiotherapist makes the prognosis of the exact medical condition of patients and offers strategies for helping them move and feel better. Discussion on treatment goals is also the part of this profession to make patients confident and encouraged.
Working as a physical therapist, you can help the patients avoid surgeries, leading to less usage of drugs in the treatment plan. An interesting aspect is the privilege of having a bonding leading to long term relationships with your patients.
One serves as both a clinical expert and a cheerleader in this field. You get a deep understanding of all critical subjects and practicalities and encourage and motivate your patients struggling with physical dysfunction and pain.
As a physical therapist, you become a vital part of the health care team to help patients with acute and chronic conditions.
Responsibilities of a physical therapist :
- Interacting with patients to get an idea about their physical and symptomatic condition
- Diagnosing movement dysfunctioning and development of proper treatment plan
- Giving patient awareness about therapeutic techniques and teaching them exercises accordingly.
- Stimulating healing by giving a clinical massage.
- Assisting patients with walkers, wheelchairs and other supporting pieces of equipment.
- Keeping proper track of progress and maintaining records of patients
- Advising patients about in-home treatment and exercises.
Where do you get PT :
Physical therapists work in a wide variety of settings, including :
- Inpatient rehabilitation centres
- Hospitals
- Outpatient clinics or offices
- Extended care facilities
- Schools
- Workplaces
- Fitness centres
- Sports facilities
- Hospices
- Private homes
- Skilled nursing facilities
Is physical therapy a promising career :
It is an excellent career if you are interested in empowering people to positivity by engaging them in their healing and health.
Demand for these professionals varies as per geographical region and practice area, but this profession’s unemployment rates are typically low as the need for physical therapists is in demand.
There are plenty of perks to relish throughout your physical therapy career.
The most remarkable pro is the growth of this field and flexible schedules. When your patient is fully rehabbed, that’s a very fulfilling experience for the practitioner in this career.
Great Pay :
The driving force is your willingness and empathy toward patients in this field, which means your paycheck is not always the top priority; even then, this field greatly benefits associated with a great salary. It means this career promises a pleasant lifestyle.
Work-life balance :
Burnout is real in the medical community due to little downtime during shifts.
But this field of the profession has very agreeable flexibility that lends to balance between work and personal life. Many other medical professionals do not have this luxury as they have to work long hospital shifts. As a physical therapist, you can set your practice hours and choose your meal break times.
Variety of Environments :
Variety is the spice of life. Practitioners in this field have a wide variety of choices regarding the environment. The perk is a treasure for those who are travelling lovers. Travelling physiotherapists are in great demand in rehabilitation centres and hospitals.
In-Demand Career Field :
More and more people are getting awareness about preferring invasive treatment in the present era, and physiotherapy falls in this category foremostly. This career is flourishing and in demand now more than ever before.
Health and fitness :
The requirement of Physical therapy is not only in the patient’s circle, but a ratio of the general public recovered from past physical trauma prefers physical therapists to be their physical trainers as we. In Short, this profession deals with healthy people too.
In addition, Physical therapist themselves keep their fitness under consideration, too, as they have to be physically strong to handle patient’s exercise regimes. Your health
Medical Knowledge :
Being in this profession means that you will continuously be in a phase of gaining knowledge as there is no shortcut for building the capability of diagnosing ailments otherwise. Because of this, Physical therapists are highly skilled and knowledgeable.
This career is the best one if you are interested in non-invasive healing.
Job Satisfaction :
It isn’t about accolades; instead, if you love the medical field, this job is something you will love to do by experiencing how it affects others. Working as a physical therapist ensures career satisfaction.
