Introduction to Physical Therapy

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Physical therapy is a well-known and deep rooted practice of the medical world. People rave about the relief and benefits it can bring to the body; it has become an integral part of modern medicine rehabilitation. If you look, you can find traces of physical therapy dated all the way back to ancient Greece. Ancient figures such as Hippocrates is noted using heat, massage, and hydrotherapy as common techniques to treat physical ailments.1

During World War I and the with widespread outbreak of polio in the United States, muscle testing and re-education was a necessity which eventually lead to the development of modern physical therapy. “With such major conflict came devastating injuries. In an effort to help wounded and recovering soldiers, programs were developed and carried out that later became known as physical therapy.”1 As one could imagine with the start of World War II, more and more soldiers were injured which created the need for more physical therapists. In 1946, the passing of the Hill Burton Act increased the number of hospitals, therefore increased the number of practicing physical therapists.1

Simply stated, “physical therapists, often called PTs, help injured or ill people with improving their body movement and managing their pain.”1 “These therapists are often an important part of rehabilitation, treatment, and prevention of patients with chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries.”2 “Physical therapists work with individuals of all ages who have functional problems ranging from physical disabilities such as, strains or sprains to neurological disabilities such as, stroke or cerebral palsy.”2  Physical therapy is commonly used increase the individual’s quality of life by making them stronger and more independent.

PTs are educated to use a variety of different techniques and modalities to treat their clients. No one injury is the same, therefore, no one patient is the same. As a PT you are often required to “think outside the box” in your treatment strategy, while also being extremely careful as to not harm the clients. “The work of physical therapists varies by type of patient. For example, a patient working to recover mobility lost after a stroke needs different care from a patient who is recovering from a sports injury.”2  

http://pt.med.miami.edu/academics/academic-programs/phd

In conclusion, physical therapy is a practice that has been around for a long time and is always evolving. With the increase in injury, the need for PTs is growing. In this blog I have discussed a brief history of physical therapy, the population, and a brief description of the approach a PT uses in their treatment. In the next blog I will discuss the benefits of regular participation in physical therapy.

References:

1Life Fitness Physical Therapy. (2015, February 25). A Brief History of Physical Therapy. Retrieved from lifefitnesspt.com: http://www.lifefitnesspt.com/blog/physical-therapy-2/a-brief-history-of-physical-therapy/

2Statistics, B. O. (2015, December 17). Physical Therapists. Retrieved from bls.gov: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-2