Whenever you have a disorder with the musculoskeletal, neurological or cardiac system you will be sent to a physical therapist. They treat all of the above disorders as it pertains to how they affect physical movement. Ramsey Physical Therapy is an excellent example of a physical therapist.

Physical therapists take care of people of all ages as long as they are having problems with their daily physical activities. Physical therapy aims to restore as much functional autonomy to the patient as possible.

Physical therapists are professionals who have obtained adequate licenses to practice in their field. There are various types of physical therapists including cardiac rehab specialists who help patients improve their endurance and cardiac function and restore them to normal capacity. There are also physical therapists who help to improve other physical attributes such as strength or balance.

Physical therapists will usually encourage you to exercise and offer you any physical assistance you may need. Patient education is also a crucial part of every treatment.

Physical therapists work in a plethora of environments including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, sports facilities, and nursing homes. The majority of physical therapists only work in one setting at a time.

What Does Physical Therapy Treat?

Now that we are clear on what a physical therapist is and does, we can proceed to what exactly do they treat as physicians. The list of conditions for which physical therapy is a vital component of the treatment is very long.

As is the case with many other occupations in the medical industry, classification is very important in physical therapy. Therefore, the long list of conditions can be categorized into:

• Orthopedic physical therapy
• Sports physical therapy
• Neurological physical therapy
• Pediatric physical therapy
• Cardiac rehab
• Aquatic physical therapy
• Pelvic floor therapy

The wider public is not privy to the classifications above so research is required before visiting a physical therapist. However, you should visit a physical therapist whenever you have any trouble with normal movement or functions even though it may seem that your condition does not fit in the categories above.

How Long Does Physical Therapy Take?

Many patients will often ask their physical therapist this question. Some of them want to get back to work and continue earning a living while others are recovering from a sports injury and are eager to get back on the field.

Regardless of the reason, it remains a pertinent question. The answer, on the other hand, is vague at best. The reason is that every physical therapy case is unique.

Your physical therapist will evaluate your condition conclusively and come up with a course of treatment that is custom-tailored for you. It could last for only a few weeks or over a year depending on the outcome of the evaluation.

How Do I See a Physical Therapist?

If you want to see a physical therapist, the best way to do so is to first go see a General Practitioner. They will then direct you to a competent physical therapist after they have ascertained that you indeed need one.