Facts About Physical Therapy

The well-being of individuals following an illness or surgery also depends on rehabilitative procedures. Physical therapy is the accepted means of rehabilitation for people around the world, regardless of age or type of disease. Performed in hospitals, outpatient clinics and even in houses, physical therapy often assists in recovery as much as surgery does. Much like technology and modern medicine, physical therapy has evolved over time and is used to treat multiple problems effectively.

History

• Physical therapists have dated back many centuries, with the first documented professional group appearing in 1894 when nurses in England formed the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. In 1914, one of the first locations for physical therapy teaching, The Reed College and Walter Reed Hospital in Portland, Oregon graduated their first physical therapists. The District of Columbia also had a center built that same year dedicated to developing new aides and therapists. Called "reconstruction aides," these aides were nurses with a physical therapy background, and were primarily needed to assist wounded soldiers during World War I.

Significance

• Research has been a key component in developing practices and treatments for physical therapy. In 1921, Mary McMillan (known as the first physical therapy aide in the U.S.) founded the American Women's Physical Therapeutic Association, later changed to the American Physical Therapy Association. In March that same year, the first journal dedicated to physical therapy research was published, entitled The PT Review. Also in 1921, educational standards for physical therapy programs were instituted, allowing accredited universities to begin teaching programs centered on physical therapy.

Orthopedic Therapy

• Orthopedic physical therapists specialize in treatment of diseases and injuries to the musculoskeletal system. Individuals in need of treatment often have disorders or ailments that have adversely affected the muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments. Physical therapists work primarily in outpatient clinics and treat individuals post-surgery or with sports-related trauma. Treatment that therapists administer includes strength training, electrical and water stimulation, massages and hot or cold stimulation packs on specific parts of the body.

Neurological Therapy

• Neurological therapy concentrates on treating individuals with a disease or injury that affects the brain and the nervous system. Examples of neurological diseases include Alzheimer's disease, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, spinal cord injury and Parkinson's disease. Therapists aid in improving physical ailments related to these diseases, such as treating paralysis, poor vision and balance, and the loss of independent use of physical functions.

Cardiovascular Therapy

• Therapists who specialize in cardiovascular therapy treat patients with disorders concerning the heart and lungs. Patients who have experienced heart attacks, bypass surgery, chronic bronchitis or have any problems related to breathing visit clinics specific to cardiovascular therapy. Individuals who have recently had surgery or have a cardiopulmonary disorder of any kind visit outpatient clinics to rehabilitate. The goal of treatment is for all patients to have sustained capacity of their lungs and heart, and to gain independence to live on their own without being monitored.