| This often involves an interaction with the medical | | | | of a physic therapist in this field to combat issues |
| practitioner and patient that incorporates physical | | | | associated with neurological damage. Brain or spinal |
| therapy equipment or training exercises for | | | | cord injury and in born issues like MS or |
| muscles that may have been harmed for a | | | | Parkinson's are often dealt with by these |
| number of medical reasons. The medical | | | | specialists. Often these types of practitioners |
| professionals who work within this field are often | | | | work with people who have been paralyzed and |
| identified as physical therapists. Many of these | | | | are unable to walk. Physical therapy supplies like |
| practitioners receive years of education before | | | | electronic muscle stimulators may be used by |
| obtaining a license to practice. PT disciplines are | | | | these therapist to stimulate blood flow and keep |
| also multifaceted and diverse, ranging from | | | | the muscles from atrophying. |
| geriatric to orthodontic. Certified therapists are | | | | Massage therapist |
| reregistered with the American Physical Therapy | | | | Practitioners of this particular health discipline must |
| Association, and undergo vigorous scrutiny prior to | | | | keep massage therapy equipment current and up |
| be accepting into the board. | | | | to date. More often than not, individual masseuses |
| Physical therapy fields | | | | work as independent contractors and have to buy |
| Some physical therapists work within hospitals or | | | | their own massage therapy supplies. Again, these |
| centers while others are contractors who work | | | | individuals have to be fully licensed and board |
| independent of a facility. The kind of physical | | | | certified even if they are not affiliated with a |
| therapist you work with will greatly depend on | | | | specific center. A masseuse who works within a |
| what kind of injury or ailment you are addressing. | | | | medical establishment will have access to state of |
| Orthopedic therapist | | | | the art massage therapy equipment, although |
| This type of therapists deals with injury or | | | | they still may have to pay for a few of their own |
| disease of the musculoskeletal system. With the | | | | massage therapy supplies. |
| use of physical therapy equipment, a therapist | | | | The Role of family |
| may retrain a client on the fundamentals of | | | | A good portion of physical therapy success is |
| walking after multiple leg fractures or enable them | | | | based on the mental attitude of the patient. This |
| to regain the use of their hands after invasive | | | | is where family can come in. The physical |
| surgeries. Simple physical training supplies, like hot | | | | therapist will show the patient what steps they |
| cold compresses may be used for sprains or mild | | | | need to take to ensure a positive outcome. In |
| fractures. | | | | turn, the family has to be there for the patient |
| Geriatric/Pediatric therapist | | | | and help keep their spirits up so that they fight to |
| Geriatric physical therapists work with the elderly | | | | get back to a place of wholeness after a |
| while pediatric physical therapist work with babies | | | | tremendous physical set back. |
| and children. Both specialists are familiar with | | | | Remember, when looking for physical therapist, |
| diseases that afflict their particular group and their | | | | be sure to check and see if they went to an |
| training is geared to help target problems | | | | accredited school and are board certified. Even a |
| associated with those illnesses. For example, a | | | | masseuse should be well trained, whether they |
| pediatric therapist may help a child with a | | | | have to provide their own massage therapy |
| curvature of the spine to learn to walk with a | | | | supplies or not. |
| brace while a geriatric therapist helps senior | | | | In the end, the over all goal of physical therapy is |
| citizens cope with arthritis or aggravations from | | | | to increase the fitness and well being of the |
| various replacement surgeries. | | | | patient post surgery or after an accident or |
| Neurological therapist | | | | prolonged, debilitating illness. |
| A neurological patient often relies on the expertise | | | | |