Physical therapy is a health discipline that is used for the prevention or treatment of a kind of movement dysfunction. It is also used towards the total enhancement of physical movement capacity. When participating in physical therapy, the ultimate goal is to assist the patient to achieve the highest possible level of independent function. Physical therapy can be used for a variety of preventative and treatment measures.

Most people who participate in Physical therapy are individuals who have physical mobility issues and require treatment to allow for full mobility in the affected body part(s). Some examples can include improving movement, relieving pain, preventing disability or surgery, recovering after birth, adapting to an artificial limb, and many more. Physical Therapy teaches a person how to recover from an injury, prevent injuries, and restore health and function.

There are many types of physical therapy available that specifically correlate with different age groups, and even body systems. There are 5 common types of physical therapy available. The first type of physical therapy is Orthopedic physical therapy. This kind of therapy mainly focuses on restoring the musculoskeletal system, and primarily joints, tendons, ligaments, and bones. These specialists are able to diagnose and treat conditions that affect the areas of the body listed above. The next kind of physical therapy is Sports Physical Therapy. This kind of therapy includes a specialist working with athletes.

Their role involves developing care plans for enhancing workout routines for the athletes. They also develop and design rehabilitation plans for athletes that have suffered from an injury. The next kind of physical therapy available is Neurological physical therapy. This kind of therapy specializes in the evaluation and/or treatment of individuals that suffer from movement problems that are related to a disease or injury to the nervous system. The fourth kind of physical therapy that is offered is Cardiopulmonary physical therapy, which focuses primarily on exercise training and education. Cardiopulmonary therapy works with patients to work on chest and postural drainage techniques, which can not only help symptom relief but also makes breathing and participating in daily activities easier on a daily basis. The final kind of physical therapy is Geriatric physical therapy.

This focuses primarily on the needs of aging adults. Geriatric physical therapists primarily work on treating conditions such as arthritis, cancer, joint replacements, osteoporosis, and balance disorders. Geriatric is a term used in medicine to describe individuals who are over the age of 65.

Physical therapy is a measure used on individuals who have suffered from some sort of injury or disease that has primarily affected their activities of daily living. With the help of receiving physical therapy, it will strengthen the muscles, bones, tendons, or ligaments that have been affected. Working alongside a physical therapist will benefit a patient who is in need of a care plan that promotes health to the patient in many different aspects. People who have lost their mobility often suffer from different kinds of mental health disparities, as it is a new way of learning to live your kind of lifestyle.

A physical therapist is able to diagnose and treat the symptoms you may be experiencing, but also have the ability to refer you to other physicians or specialists that you may benefit from. A physical therapist is considered a Doctor of Physical Therapy and must participate in a 4-year bachelors of science in Physical therapy program. These specialists work with patients from any age range and multiple kinds of diseases, disorders, or injuries that negatively affect them to promote health and healing. For more information on the importance of physical therapy, reach out to our team at Progressive Physical Therapy for how physical therapy may be important for your journey to recovery. 

The differences between a physiotherapist and a physical therapist are very minimal. A physiotherapist can be in school from 4 to 5 years, depending on if they want to receive their masters in physiotherapy. A physical therapist is in school for 4 years. The key difference between a physiotherapist and a physical therapist is directly related to the kind of care they both give. A physiotherapist has a more hands on approach to care, that makes use of manual therapy, which could include stretching, soft tissue release, joint mobilization, and more.

A physical therapist is more involved in an exercise-based approach. Physical therapists create care plans for their patients that best suits their needs of rehabilitation due to loss of mobility. This can include strengthening of muscles, improving balance, and more. Our team at Progressive Physical Therapy is here for all of your needs. We treat patients with a variety of mobility disorders, injuries, and any sports related incidents. If you or someone you know may be in need of physical therapy, please feel free to reach out to our team at any time. For more information, call us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 15 Spinning Wheel Road Ste. 24 Hinsdale, IL 60521. We serve patients from Hinsdale IL, Chicago IL, Oak Park IL, Lombard IL, Downers Grove IL, Bridgeview IL, and Oak Lawn IL.