Becoming a physical therapist is no easy journey. Any hopeful must earn a bachelor’s degree in a related field, then complete a three-year (on average) doctorate program to receive their doctorate of physical therapy (DPT). To earn a license to practice in their state, they must also pass the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) and any additional state licensing guidelines.
Physical therapists can diagnose patients based on their movement patterns and tailor their treatment plans to their health issues. PTs are not only knowledgeable in how a body moves but also how different body systems integrate with movements. They understand how the cardiovascular, neurological, and endocrine systems can all affect activity. They will most likely examine more of the patient’s body than their problem areas to determine if the site of pain is causing more widespread issues. For example, if you come in with knee pain, a great physical therapist will evaluate not only your knee but your hip and ankle as well.
While PTs cannot prescribe surgery or medication like a primary care physician, they specialize in diagnosing based on movement and their knowledge of proper muscle and joint function.
Physical therapists are distinct from occupational therapists (OTs). OTs focus on activities of daily living, which may require fine motor skills, such as getting dressed and brushing teeth. PTs focus on functional movements like rolling, standing, walking, and balance, as well as transitional activities like sit-to-stand. The ultimate goal of a PT is to teach patients how to prevent injury, manage pain, and restore functional movements.
What Makes Physical Therapy Unique?
A unique element of physical therapy is the potential for a client-therapist connection. Perhaps there is no other medical professional that gets to spend as much one-on-one time with patients as PTs get to do. This presents the opportunity to get to know a client beyond their injury or condition.
Injuries are never just physical - there is usually a mental health component involved. If you are an athlete with an ACL tear, you may wonder whether you can ever play your sport again. If you lose your mobility as you age, you may wonder how you will ever be able to return to the activities you loved. The best PTs recognize this fact and meet patients where they are to guide them through their anxieties as they recover. The emotional bond can even improve the quality of the prescribed physical therapy treatment. If a patient trusts their therapist, and if the therapist encourages a patient as they go, the patient will most likely see a more successful outcome.
A great therapist can adjust a patient’s treatment plan to their lifestyle, including diet, sleep, and daily routine. Their ultimate goal is to get you moving throughout your day. For example, suppose a patient works at a desk all day. In that case, the therapist will often prescribe postural exercises to counter the negative effects of sitting, and they may recommend you stand up and walk around multiple times throughout the workday. The best treatment plans involve not only your workouts but your daily activities so that you can work toward a healthier lifestyle.
Is Physical Therapy Right For Me?
Physical therapy recognizes that every body and mind has its unique potential. It is all about restoring functional mobility, maintaining independence, and getting clients back to the activities they love. Your therapist will form a connection with you as you go through your treatment, and the emotional support will help you feel better faster.
This is the ultimate goal of physical therapy: improving the human experience by improving movement. We have written an article on how physical therapy works to help you understand the science behind why it works for so many different people.
This is our goal, and we want to help you find a therapist who will change your life for the better. If this treatment sounds right for your injury or condition, and you want to learn more about getting physical therapy.
Precision Pain Care and Rehabilitation has two convenient locations in Richmond Hill – Queens, and New Hyde Park – Long Island. Call the Queens office at (718) 215-1888 or (516) 419-4480 for the Long Island office to arrange an appointment with our Interventional Pain Management Specialist, Dr. Jeffrey Chacko.
