
Physical Therapy, Explained
When injuries, illness, or chronic pain occur, physical therapy can play an important role in your recovery. But what exactly is it? And how does it work? Read on to learn why physical therapy helps people live stronger, healthier lives.
What Is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy, also called physiotherapy, helps you move better, manage pain, and recover from injuries or health conditions. It may include exercises, massages, and treatments like heat, cold, electrical currents, or ultrasound to strengthen muscles and relieve discomfort.
Physical therapy also teaches you ways to care for your health at home, making it a key part of recovery and future injury prevention.
Who Can Benefit?
People dealing with ongoing pain, mobility issues, or injury recovery can benefit from physical therapy. This often includes:
- Older Adults — Those experiencing age-related issues such as arthritis, osteoporosis, harmful falls, surgeries, or strokes.
- Athletes — Anyone aiming to recover from sports injuries, improve performance, or prevent future ailments.
- People with Musculoskeletal Injuries — Individuals healing from orthopedic surgeries or managing chronic pain in muscles, bones, or joints.
- Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Patients — Those recovering from heart attacks, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), asthma, or other heart and lung conditions.
- Chronic Pain Sufferers — Individuals managing long-term conditions that limit mobility or cause discomfort.
- People with Neurological Conditions — Those recovering from strokes or managing conditions like Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy, or spinal cord injuries.
- Children — Young children or adolescents with developmental delays, congenital conditions, or severe injuries.
How It Works
To start, a physical therapist will assess your:
- Strength
- Flexibility
- Joint mobility and range of motion
- Pain levels and neurological function
- Cardiovascular performance
- Balance
From there, personalized goals can be tailored to your needs and lifestyle. Your treatment plan may include one-on-one sessions in a gym-like clinic or hospital setting, as well as home exercises to continue your progress.
The frequency of sessions is determined based on the type of injury or illness, as well as personal factors. It is common to meet with a physical therapist in 30–90-minute increments multiple times per week. Total treatment can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months or years.
PT vs. OT
Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) often work together to help patients regain their abilities. While both focus on recovery, they differ in approach:
- Physical Therapy — Targets improvements to movement, strength, and pain reduction, particularly for those recovering from injuries or surgeries.
- Occupational Therapy — Focuses on helping individuals regain independence in everyday activities like dressing, eating, or using tools at work.
Together, they ensure a holistic recovery journey for patients.
Comprehensive Care to Grow Healthy
When health challenges arise, AltaMed has your back. From screenings, checkups, and dental care to pharmacy and behavioral health services, you’ll find everything you need under one roof. Click here to search nearby locations or call (888) 499-9303.