Physical Therapy is the branch of medical science that deals with restoring body movements due to several health conditions like injuries, surgeries, etc.
The physical therapist can cover various diseases and help manage people to live healthy lives. They craft the treatment plan based on the health problems suffered by people.
PT can help in the prevention of the following chronic diseases:
- Heart Disease
- Low back pain
- Headaches
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Neck pain
- Hip pain
- Falls prevention
- Osteoarthritis for pain and many more
What is a Doctor of Physical Therapy?
Unlike other medical treatments, the issues with the physical movements also need to be treated by an authorized and certified professional. The doctor of physical therapy (DPT) is a professional course that shows an individual is capable of handling a patient’s problem.
The DPT is a postgraduate three-year degree course, and one can enroll in it after completing a related undergraduate degree.
The classes of the DPT involve in-depth study related to the courses – physiology, kinesiology, and anatomy. It may also include courses on cardiopulmonary rehab, neurology, and pharmacology.
The candidate also needs to undergo clinical rotation. They have to get training in the hospital and apply the knowledge they have acquired from the classroom. The candidate works closely with the trained therapists at the hospital to gain practical knowledge by treating actual patients.
The completion of the DPT degree is not only completing the coursework. Instead, an aspirant needs to compete in the clinical rotation to acquire the degree.
What expertise does DPT help in developing?
- The degree course helps better examine the patient and design the line of treatment based on the problem.
- It enables the patient to improve their overall quality of life and better functioning and promotes the patient’s fitness.
- It helps in the development of health policy standards related to physical therapy.
- The degree assists in life-long learning.
Branches of DPT
Hand Therapy
The Certified Hand Therapist is the branch of DPT that focuses explicitly on the shoulder, arm, and hand rehabs techniques. This branch deals with different issues like restricted joint movements and various injuries.
It covers the following problems:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Finger, hand, and wrist fractures
- Boxer’s fracture
- Mallet finger
- Tennis elbow
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Frozen shoulder
- Joint mobilization and many more.
Manual Therapy
Manual therapy consists of different techniques and certifications. It is all about using the hands to treat movement disorders and dysfunctions instead of machines that help quickly diagnose the problem.
Manual therapy treats the following conditions
- Headaches
- Chronic pain
- Cupping
- Arthritis pain
- Joint mobilization
- Pelvic floor muscular release
Chronic Pain Therapy
Chronic pain therapy can interfere with day-to-day activity. There may be several causes to it. Pain is considered chronic when it remains for more than three months.
The DPT helps the patient get the liberty from the pain by finding the root cause of the problem and reducing stress.
Sports Therapy
Sports therapy requires rigorous insight into the problem. Diagnosing the problem to enable the patient to go back to the game. So, DPT has hands-on experience dealing with different types of sports injuries.
Fall prevention therapy
Generally, the adults having muscle weakness or someone with chronic injury face the balancing disorder. With the daily exercise regime and physical therapy, the patient can be recovered.
The therapist helps in the long-term positive outcomes.
Work areas of physical therapist
People with specific disabilities, injuries, or surgeries can approach certified physiotherapists. The therapist can provide a home visit; else, people can see them in different facilities. Some are:
- Hospitals
- Outpatient clinic
- Rehabilitation centers (Neurology rehab)
- Nursing home
- Spinal cord injury clinic
- Cardiac rehab clinic
What are the admission requirements?
- The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or college.
- Good academic record
- Two mandatory courses in biology and lab.
- Mandatory course in psychology
- One study in statistics, algebra, or trigonometry.
- Course in general psychology