Unit 14 Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions.  It is provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, prognosis, patient education, physical intervention, rehabilitation, disease prevention, and health promotion. 

Physical therapy is provided as a primary care treatment or alongside, or in conjunction with, other medical services. The body of knowledge of physical therapy is large, and therefore physical therapists may specialize in a specific clinical area.

Neurological physical therapy, for example, is a field focusing on working with individuals who have a neurological disorder or disease. These can include stroke, chronic back pain, Alzheimer’s disease, brain injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injury. Common impairments associated with neurologic conditions include impairments of vision, balance, ambulation, activities of daily living, movement, muscle strength and loss of functional independence. The techniques involve in neurological physical therapy are wide-ranging and often require specialized training.

Physical therapy has been found to be effective for improving outcomes in many other medical conditions. For example, evidence suggests that physiotherapy treatment in asthma patients may improve quality of life, promote cardiopulmonary fitness and inspiratory pressure, as well as reduce symptoms and medication use.