Physical Therapist
Physical therapy, also known as physiotherapy, refers to a health care profession which primarily entails the remediation of disabilities and impairments (Curtis 4). In addition, it is concerned with the promotion of mobility, quality of life, functional ability as well as movement potential through such interventions as examination, evaluation, diagnosis together with physical intervention performed by physical therapists.
Physical therapy profession is not purely limited to clinical practice as it encompasses other activities such as education, research, administration as well as consultation. Physical therapy involves interaction of varied players from different fronts such as patients/clients, physical therapist, families, other health care professionals, care givers, and communities at large. All these parties are essentially involved in a process where there is assessment and diagnosis of movement potential after which specific goals are agreed upon. In some scenarios, physical rehabilitation technicians are tasked to offer physiotherapy services.
The profession of a physical therapist greatly demands a clear understanding of the inner workings of the entire human body. In this respect, physical therapists are healthcare professionals qualified at diagnosing and treating individuals of all ages, from as young as newborns to as old as great-grandparents (Harasymiw 5). These are patients who have medical conditions or other health-related problems, injuries, or illnesses which may compromise their abilities to move around and undertake functional activities as they would please in their lives. In performing their work, physical therapists rely on an individual’s history in addition to carrying out physical examination so as to reach a diagnosis and then establish a management plan and integrate the outcomes of laboratory and imaging tests as necessary.
Physical therapy management often entails prescription of or assistance with particular exercises, education, manual therapy, manipulation among other interventions. Furthermore, physical therapists liaison with patients to check the loss of mobility before it happens by developing fitness cum wellness-oriented programs to achieve healthier as well as more active lifestyles, offering services to persons and populations to develop, maintain and restore utmost movement and functional ability throughout a lifetime (Dreeben-Irimia 56). This extends to providing services in instances where movement and function are at risk as a result of injury, disease, aging or environmental factors.
Physical therapy is a profession with many specialties such as EMG, sports, neurologic, wound care, geriatrics, orthopaedic, cardiopulmonary, pediatrics among others. As such, physical therapists are used to practicing in varied settings, the likes of outpatient clinics or offices, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, health and wellness clinics, private homes, extended care facilities, schools, education and research centers, hospices etc.
In addition, physical therapists do practice other non-patient care roles which include health policy, health care administration, health insurance and health care executives (Harasymiw 7). They are also active in the medical-legal fields performing peer review together with independent medical examinations and serving as experts.
It is projected physical therapy will be offered by physical therapists who will be doctors of physical therapy as well as board-certified specialists (Fair 95). It is thought that individuals will be able to acquire direct access to physical therapists in all environments in terms of patient/client management, prevention along with wellness services.
Summary
The profession of physical therapy has continued to undergo metamorphosis from its initial state in the early 20th century. At the moment, the profession is faced with a number of challenges which are bound to characterize the future task of physical therapists in delivery of health care (Curtis 8). However, there is no doubt that the physical therapy profession will continue to have a significant role in the health care delivery.
References:
Curtis, A. Kathleen. Physical Therapy Professional Foundations: Keys to Success in School and Career. New Jersey: SLACK Incorporated, 2002.
Dreeben-Irimia, Olga. Introduction To Physical Therapy for Physical Therapist Assistants. Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2010.
Fair, Elayne, Sharon. Wellness and Physical Therapy. Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2010.
Harasymiw, Therese. A Career As a Physical Therapist. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2010.
