Types of Physiotherapy

A physical therapist helps take care of patients in all phases of healing, from initial diagnosis to restorative and preventive stages of recovery. Physical therapy may be a standalone option, or it may support other treatments.

Some patients are referred to a physical therapist by a doctor, while others seek therapy themselves.

According to the World Confederation for Physical Therapy, a physical therapist receives training that enables them to:

• conduct a physical exam and evaluation of a person’s movement, flexibility, muscle and joint motion, and performance, including finding out about their health history
• give a clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and plan of care with short- and long-term goals
• perform physical therapy treatment and intervention
• give self-management recommendations, including exercises a person can do at home

Apart from physical manipulation, physical therapy treatment may involve:

• Iontophoresis: This uses an electrical current to deliver certain medications, such as topical steroids. This can decrease the presence of inflammation.
• Electrical stimulation (e-stim): There are two types of e-stim. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduces pain. By contrast, neuromuscular electrical stimulation works to stimulate muscular motor units to improve muscular engagement.
• Heat, moist heat, and cold therapy: These may provide benefits to a range of conditions.
• Light therapy: This involves using special lights and lasers to treat certain medical conditions.

Common conditions physical therapy may help with

Physical therapists can provide supplementary treatment to a wide variety of medical conditions, depending on their specialty.

Although physical therapists may not directly and independently treat the medical condition other than pure musculoskeletal conditions, they work to optimize recovery or educate a person on how to optimize their movement patterns.

Some conditions that could benefit from physical therapy are:

• cardiopulmonary conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and post-myocardial infarction heart failure
• conditions that affect the hand, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger
• musculoskeletal dysfunction, including back pain, rotator cuff tears, and temporomandibular joint disorders
• neurological conditions, such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, vestibular dysfunction, and traumatic brain injuries
• pediatric conditions, including cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy
• sports-related injuries, such as concussion and tennis elbow
• female health and pelvic floor dysfunction, including urinary incontinence and lymphedema
• skin conditions or injuries, such as burns, wound care, and diabetic ulcers