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There are few physical therapy specialties such as, musculoskeletal, orthopedics, cardiac, neuroscience, hormonal disorders, sports medicine, geriatrics, the field of pediatrics women’s health, wound care, and electromyography. These are all the important physical therapy specialties. Specifically, the field of neurological rehabilitation is one that is developing quickly.
Private rehabilitation clinics, outpatient services or offices, medical and wellness centers, hospitals, skilled nursing and raised care facilities, private residences, research and education centers, schools, hospitals, industrial and commercial buildings or other professional environments, fitness centers, and sports training facilities are just a few of the many settings in which physical therapists practice.
Physical Therapy Specialties
Geriatrics
Geriatric physical therapy is mostly focused on older adults, although it addresses a wide range of disorders that affect people as they age normally. It is one the most important field in all physical therapy specialties. As individuals age, a multitude of problems might impact them, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, hip and replacement of joints, balance issues, incontinence, and so on. Senior citizen patients with these conditions are treated expertly by geriatric physical therapists. Physical therapy helps keep residents of assisted living facilities from experiencing declines in their daily activities and health.
According to the available research, engaging in various forms of physical rehabilitation can enhance daily functioning, power, mobility, equilibrium, state of mind, recall, tolerance for exercise, fear of slipping, injuries, and death, among other aspects of physical health. It might be safe, effective, and reduce disability with little side effects while enhancing mental and physical health. Based on the available data, physical rehabilitation could be a useful intervention for individuals in long-term care facilities to lessen their handicap with few side effects.
Nevertheless, there is not enough data to determine whether the positive impacts are economical and long-lasting. Moderately strong evidence supports the conclusions.
Cardiovascular And Pulmonary
Physical therapists and respiratory specialists that specialize in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation can treat a wide range of cardiopulmonary conditions or provide care before and after heart or lung surgery. Coronary bypass surgery is one type of heart surgery. This physical therapy specialties main objectives are to improve functional independence and endurance. In this profession, manual treatment is performed to help discharge secretions from the lungs associated with cystic fibrosis. This plays a very major role among physical therapy specialties. Cardiovascular and pulmonary trained physical therapists can be beneficial in the treatment of pulmonary illnesses, heart attacks, post-coronary procedure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including fibrosis of the lungs.
Orthopedics
Orthopedic physical therapists assess, monitor, and treat conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, such as post-orthodontics rehabilitation, acute trauma (sprains, strains), injuries with a gradual development (tendinopathy, bursitis), and deformities (scoliosis). It is one the most important field in all physical therapy specialties. The outpatient therapeutic setting is where this physical therapy specialties is often found. The management of post-operative orthopedic operations, broken bones, acute injuries from sports, osteoarthritis, strains and sprains, back and neck pain, spinal disorders, and amputations is the specialty of orthopedic therapists.
In the orthopedic setting, various modalities are used to speed up recovery, such as joint and spine mobilization/manipulation, electrical stimulation of the muscles (e.g., cryotherapy, iontophoresis, electrotherapy), rehabilitation exercises, neurological and muscular methods, muscle reeducation, hot/cold packs, and therapeutic exercise. The use of ultrasound for diagnosis and to direct therapies like muscle retraining is another new addition to diagnosis and treatment. An evaluation from a physical therapist with expertise in orthopedics is beneficial for patients who have diseases or injuries that impact their muscles, ligaments, bones, or tendons.
Neurology
The primary focus of the area of neurological physical therapy is treating patients with neurological diseases or disorders. These can include Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, strokes, persistent pain in the back, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), facial palsy, spinal cord injury, and brain injury. Vision, equilibrium, walking, activities of everyday life, movement, muscle strength, and decreased functional independence are among the common deficits linked to neurologic diseases. Numerous techniques are used in neurological physical therapy, many of which require specialized expertise.
Wound Management
Management of wounds Conditions affecting the outer layer of skin and all of its connected organs are treated with physical therapy. Among the most prevalent conditions treated are wounds and burns. Physical therapists can use instruments for surgery, bandages, wound irrigation systems, and topical drugs to remove polluted or damaged tissue and promote tissue healing. Compression garments, splinting, exercise, and edema control are other often employed therapies. Physical therapy specialties carry out duties that are similar to those done by doctors or nurses in emergency departments or triage areas.
Pediatrics
Pediatric care is included in physical therapy specialties. Physiotherapy for problems in children is provided using a range of methods, and pediatric physical therapy aids in early identification of health issues. These therapists specialize in the diagnosis, care, and treatment of a wide range of born with, developmental, neuromuscular, skeletal, and acquired problems and diseases in infants, kids, and teenagers. Enhancing gross & fine motor abilities, coordination and balance, strength and endurance, as well as cognition and sensory integration and processing, are the main goals of treatment.
Sports
Whether an athlete is a recreational, full-time professional, or semi-professional, physical therapists are vital to their health and well-being. It plays a very important role in physical therapy specialties. Sports injury care is covered in this field of practice under five primary headings:
- Acute care is the evaluation and identification of a new injury
- Treatment: the use of specialized knowledge and methods to promote recovery
- Rehabilitation: a phased approach to a complete return to sports
- Prevention is the recognition and correction of flaws (like mobility evaluation) that are known to cause injuries directly or to function as risk factors for injuries
- Education is the transfer of specialized knowledge to teams, groups, or individual athletes in order to help with injury management or prevention
Electromyography
This field is included in physical therapy specialties. The method used to assess and record the electrical activity generated by skeletal muscles is called electromyography (EMG). An electromyograph is the tool used in EMG procedures to create an electromyogram, or record. When muscle cells are electronically or neurologically stimulated, an electromyograph records the electric potential these cells produce. The signals can be examined to look for anomalies, determine the recruitment order or activation level, or examine the biomechanics of animal or human movement.
Women Health
Women health is also developing progress quickly among physical therapy specialties. Health of women or pelvic floor Physical therapy primarily treats problems pertaining to the women reproduction, childbirth, and the postpartum period in women. These ailments include pelvic discomfort, osteoporosis, lymphedema, the perinatal and postpartum periods, and incontinence. Along with other conditions linked to pelvic floor dysfunction, it also addresses urinary tract infections, pelvic discomfort, and pelvic organ prolapse. Numerous studies have shown that manual physical therapy increases the chances of pregnancy for infertile women
Oncology
Physical therapy specialties that is constantly growing and changing in the fields of cancer and palliative care, both for cancerous and non-malignant diseases. Due to advances in treatment and early diagnosis, physical therapy is now acknowledged as a critical component of the therapeutic pathway for both patient groups. Regardless of their anticipated length of life, it is widely acknowledged that individuals should have the ability to receive a suitable degree of rehabilitation in order to maximize their level of life and function with the least amount of dependency.
Physical Therapist’s Useful Skills
- Outstanding Social Skills
- Effective Communication Techniques
- Understanding of Emergency Procedures and Safety
- Physiology and Anatomy Understanding and Proficiency in Physiotherapy Methods
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