How Does Physical Therapy Work?

Physical therapy is dedicated to improving physical function, alleviating pain, and improving overall quality of life through movement and hands-on care. At Biomotion Physical Therapy, our skilled therapists are trained to diagnose physical conditions, restore mobility, and maintain physical function. 

But what exactly do physical therapists do, and what happens during therapy sessions? Follow along as we explain how physical therapy works and how these treatments can benefit you.

What Physical Therapists Do

Physical therapists (PTs) are healthcare professionals who are experts in the movement of the human body. They are trained to assess your physical condition and develop personalized treatment plans. They typically work with patients in recovery from an injury or surgery. At Biomotion Physical Therapy, our PTs use their expertise to help you move better and manage your pain.

Physical therapists perform a comprehensive evaluation of movement, including assessing joint motion, muscle strength, cardiovascular function, pain levels, and daily activities. This assessment helps them to identify the root causes of your issues. They then create tailored therapy plans to improve mobility, alleviate pain, and prevent disability. Your physical therapist helps you strengthen weakened muscles and relieve pain with movements and special exercises done in sessions with them and at home.

The Treatment Process

Creating a treatment or care plan is a critical task for a PT. It involves a detailed assessment of the patient’s condition and specific needs. 

Here’s a step-by-step look at how physical therapists typically develop these plans.

1. Initial Assessment

The first step in creating a treatment plan is conducting a comprehensive initial assessment, which includes:

• Medical History: Understanding the patient’s medical history, including current and past illnesses, surgeries, medications, and the main reasons for seeking physical therapy.
• Physical Examination: This involves assessing the patient’s physical abilities through various tests to evaluate strength, range of motion, flexibility, balance, coordination, posture, and motor function.
• Functional Assessment Involves observing how the patient performs certain crucial activities for daily living to identify areas of difficulty and underlying problems.

2. Diagnosis

Based on the initial evaluation, your physical therapist will diagnose your condition in terms of physical functionality. This diagnosis helps determine which areas require the most attention and sets the stage for effective treatment planning.

3. Setting Goals

Your therapist will set short-term and long-term goals with you. These goals are tailored to your needs, lifestyle, and expectations. They should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART), ensuring they are clear and feasible.

4. Developing the Treatment Plan

With a diagnosis and goals in place, your therapist develops a customized care plan that may include:

• Therapeutic Exercises: Customized exercises to improve strength, range of motion, and endurance.
• Techniques: Hands-on techniques to manipulate muscles and joints, which can help decrease pain and improve circulation and mobility.
• Modalities: Use equipment like ultrasound, electrical stimulation, heat, and ice to reduce pain and facilitate muscle function.
• Education: Teaching the patient about their condition and how to manage it. This includes guidance on posture, ergonomics, and preventive practices to avoid future injuries.
• Home Exercise Programs: Provide exercises the patient can do at home to continue improving outside of sessions.

5. Implementation

Physical therapists implement the treatment plan, working closely with you during sessions. These sessions are used to perform and teach specific stretches and therapeutic exercises, administer manual therapies, and monitor the patient’s progress.

6. Regular Re-assessment

Regular follow-ups and reassessments are crucial. Your therapist will regularly reassess your progress toward the set goals and adjust the treatment plan as necessary. This ongoing process ensures that the therapy remains effective and responsive to your changing needs to prevent future problems.

7. Continuation or Conclusion of Therapy

Once goals are achieved, your therapist may decide to conclude the therapy or move to a maintenance phase where the focus shifts to preserving the gains made during therapy and preventing regression.

This systematic approach ensures that the physical therapy treatment plan is personalized, goal-oriented, and based on the latest clinical evidence, maximizing the potential for a successful outcome.

A physical therapist helps their patients manage various medical problems by reducing pain and meeting patients’ goals, which are established according to their type of injury.

What Happens in Physical Therapy Sessions?

Physical therapy sessions at Biomotion Physical Therapy are tailored to each individual’s needs. Here’s what typically happens:

1. Evaluation: Your first session will involve a detailed assessment to determine your physical condition and to establish your therapy goals.
2. Treatment Plan: Based on the initial evaluation, your physical therapist will develop a customized treatment plan that might include exercises, manual therapy, and other modalities.
3. Therapeutic Exercises: These are specific exercises designed to address your particular issues. They focus on improving strength, range of motion, and endurance.
4. Manual Therapy: Involves hands-on manipulation of muscles and joints to improve circulation, reduce scar tissue, and enhance movement.
5. Education: PTs also educate patients on posture, ergonomics, and body mechanics to manage pain and prevent injury.
6. Progress Tracking: Regular follow-ups are scheduled to assess progress and adjust treatment plans as necessary.

Types of Physical Therapy

Physical therapy encompasses a variety of specialized approaches, each tailored to meet therapeutic needs. Here are some of the most common types of physical therapy:

• Orthopedic Physical Therapy: Focuses on the musculoskeletal system, helping to treat conditions such as sprains, back pain, arthritis, fractures, and post-operative injuries. Techniques often include joint mobilizations, strength training, manual therapy, and other modalities to restore joint and muscle function.
• Geriatric Physical Therapy: Designed for older adults, geriatric physical therapy aims to alleviate pain and increase mobility in conditions associated with aging, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, hip and joint replacement, balance disorders, and incontinence. This type helps improve mobility, reduce pain, and increase physical fitness levels.
• Neurological Physical Therapy: Best suited for individuals with neurological disorders or diseases such as stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, vestibular dysfunction, and traumatic brain injuries. The goal is to adapt to visual, mobility, and balance impairments and improve function to enhance activities of daily living.
• Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy: Improves endurance and functional independence. It is aimed at helping patients with cardiopulmonary conditions and post-surgical patients. Cardiac rehabilitation techniques are designed to reduce heart or lung disease symptoms and improve overall stamina.
• Sports Physical Therapy: Focuses on helping athletes of all levels recover from sports injuries and improve their performance. It also emphasizes injury prevention. Therapists use a variety of strategies tailored to each sport’s demands.
• Comprehensive Injury Therapy: Sports injuries aren’t the only injuries PT can treat. Other injuries such as rotator cuff tears, brain injuries, and other traumas caused in the workplace, car accidents, or at home can be treated with physical therapy.
• Women’s Health Physical Therapy: This specialty addresses women’s health issues, including postpartum care, pelvic floor dysfunction, lymphedema, osteoporosis, and rehabilitation following breast surgery. It is designed to cater to conditions specific to the female body, particularly those related to childbearing and pelvic health.

Each type offers unique benefits, and the right approach depends on the patient’s goals, health needs, medical conditions, and levels of discomfort.

Receive Personalized Physical Therapy Treatment at Biomotion Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a vital part of healthcare that focuses on physical wellness. Whether recovering from an injury, managing a chronic illness, or improving your range of motion, physical therapy can improve your overall quality of life. At Biomotion Physical Therapy, we aim to provide you with the highest standard of care to help you move, feel, and live better.

If you are experiencing pain or mobility issues, don’t wait. Contact us today, and let us help you gain confidence and restore function to your body.