In a world where alternative medicine includes the profession of physical therapy, and many unique healthcare professions in between, many people who suffer from chronic pain are not entirely sure which professional to choose from. When it comes to chronic and consistent pain that may or may not have been caused by some sort of trauma, a physical therapist may be a person’s best choice. But what happens when a person is not entirely sure what a physical therapy professional does? How can they choose from a profession that they know little to nothing about? Here are a few things to help you better understand their roles and responsibilities.
What is a Physical Therapist?
Unlike many of their counterparts, these professionals are highly educated, licensed healthcare professionals. More often than not, such a professional is readily accepted into a general medical community. They specialize in services that relieve pain, restore function, and improve the mobility of people who suffer from a physical disability, a fracture, back pain and a host of other pain related problems.
What is a Typical Appointment Like?
Physical Therapists need to understand the issue and develop a treatment plan. Prior to meeting with a potential client, the therapist will review a patient’s medical history. They will take a look at results from a systems review, and then begin testing the client’s strength, range of motion, balance, coordination, muscle performance, motor function and respiration. This series of tests will better assist the therapist in understanding current, future and preexisting problems. Only after these assessments are completed can a physical therapist provide a patient with a prognosis, diagnosis and a care or treatment plan. This care plan will outline evidence-based strategies for the affliction as well as functional outcomes. During the course of treatment, the therapist will be able to better understand when and how a patient can go back to work. For example, if you resided in Manhattan and you crashed your bike into a flower stand, you probably would need the help of a physical therapist. New York PTs would meet with you and go through the aforementioned assessments in order to come up with a plausible treatment plan.
Finding the right PT is not as difficult as one might think. For the most part, doctors give referrals to patients all of the time. If you live in the greater New York metropolitan area and are in need of a physical therapist, visit
