The Home For Occupational Therapists

Each professional body needs some kind of safe place that will help them when they need advice or to help them establish themselves in an economy which is growing tighter each year on the budget of each American.

There are many benefits of belonging to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) that it would not make sense to not belong to this national professional association.

What The American Occupational Therapy Association Is

In order for occupational therapists and occupational therapy students to give the best service they possibly can and to help them to stay current with the latest techniques. AOTA takes on members and acts in their best interest by keeping them up to date and informing them of any changes in the laws that are applicable to their practices as well as keeping them informed of any workshops that are available in their areas.

Not only does this give the member of the association and edge over those professionals who have not joined, but it also ensures that the industry as a whole gives the quality service that is expected by their patients as well as making sure that the standard of service does not drop. When there is a set standard available, it is much easier to stay within the boundaries of what is expected and perform to those standards, than having to waste time looking up and researching through a mass of possibly incorrect information to see what is expected and what is seen as acceptable service levels.

The Advantages Of Being A Member

The first and probably the most obvious benefit of being a member of the association is that you do not have to do any guesswork as to what is expected of you as an Occupational therapist by the law and by the public as a whole. You are guaranteed to have all of the information that you may possibly need to run a successful and ethical practice at your fingertips.
In short, the benefits of your membership can be summed up as follows:

• All the tools and resources that you may need to become a successful OT (occupational therapist) and to maintain that status
• Categorized membership to ensure you are registered in your specific field of practice
• Legal representation on your behalf through legislative advocacy
• Availability to all learning tools to maintain and renew your license as an OT
• Professional certification programs as well as credentials
• Ways to get in touch with others in your field to network and connect
• Discounts that are only available to members at specified partners
• A platform to find a job or advance your career
• Learning courses that will help you become a better OT in general as well as to start your own business or to help you qualify for a management position through leadership training

The Tools And Resources Available

In order for the AOTA to reach their strategic goal of uplifting the standards of the professionals who are registered with them, they provide the necessary tools to the OT who is registered with them to prepare them for the current situation. As we all know, each generation will face their own unique set of challenges and it is up to the OT to keep up with the challenges that face different communities and different profiles in order to have the solution to those challenges.

Being online is also a very big advantage for the AOTA as all of the information that is possibly needed by the member can be downloaded at the push of a button and the AOTA can easily keep track of their many members online and manage these members in the same way by monitoring how many members they have in which sector and by having a database already set up when the member registers online.

Categorized Membership

It is pointless and a waste of time for an OT who deals with children to have to sift through all of the information and offers for the other sectors such as dealing with seniors who have had a stroke. For this reason, the memberships are clearly categorized and the sector the member registers for will be represented in the membership. This simplifies the process for the OT and they will receive offers that are relevant to their own sector. Should the OT wish to update or customize their membership profile, they can simply do that by going online and filling in the details they wish to change on the member center link.

Legislative Advocacy

In the medical field, there is always something that can go wrong, even if it was unintentional or if it was simply a misunderstanding and the consequences for these transgressions can be quite severe. Having all of the information at your disposal in case a problem arises for which you need legal advice is critical to solving the problem before it becomes a crisis. When you know what your rights are and how to make sure you have followed all of the correct procedures as well as how to keep record of how you followed procedure, then staying away from court becomes that much simpler.

Learning Tools

OT students can also be members of the AOTA and all of the information they may need to complete their studies can be gained from the AOTA. Students will also have access to the networking channels where they can get in touch with professionals who have been practicing in the field for an amount of time and gain insight from their experience.

Professional Certification

The aim of the AOTA is to have a professional environment for all of its members and the public who make use of these services and to ensure all of its members are on the correct service levels, they have access to certification courses which will help them to gain a good standing with their peers and patients alike. These courses do not qualify a person to start practicing as an OT, but is at the disposal of the already qualified OT in order to stay current with new practices as well as maintaining a level of continuous development of their career.

Networking

In the age of technology it is hard to ignore the power of networking. Getting in touch with professionals from all walks of the profession is very beneficial to an OT as they can gain insight and grow as a professional by gaining insight from and by teaching others in the profession thus raising the standard automatically and stepping away from textbooks and gaining insight on what is working for other professionals.

Discount At Partners

It does not matter which career a person is in, it is always nice to have a bonus element attached to being a member of an association. The same goes for being a member of the AOTA. Members enjoy discounts on products, courses, workshops as well as subscriptions. All of this value adds up and makes the membership more than a piece of paper with bragging rights. Putting money back into the pockets of the professional means that they have more excess funds to further their careers and become more educated which helps the AOTA materialize their goals. Thus the benefit is two-fold.

Career Management

Getting into the profession can be difficult, but because the AOTA accepts students as their members, these students can start to look for vacancies through the AOTA’s career link where they can find work just before or just after they qualify. Members that have qualified as professionals already and who are in the profession already can further their careers by looking for employment opportunities online as well. There are so many opportunities available that it all comes down to knowing where to look at the end of the day. Even if you are not looking for employment, you can take a look at which qualifications are sought after so that you can gain these improvements to your resume gradually. This can prepare you for future employment opportunities.

Continuous Development Through Learning

Nothing places a professional sector, or any other sector for that matter, more at risk that stagnation. When a group of professionals as a whole reach a certain level of knowledge and then stagnate on that level then progress grinds to a halt and it leads to the downfall of the entire profession. This stagnation also leaves gaps in the market and the individual who dare to take advantage of this gap and progress in their knowledge and skills to a level above the norm, will excel and leave the rest of the market plummeting and floundering for survival. For this reason it is very important for the AOTA to not only maintain a level of knowledge and skill, but to raise the bar continuously and to challenge all of their members so that the level of service keeps rising to uplift the profession as a whole.

The American Occupational Therapist Association Online

AOTA online makes it easy for members to keep track of their memberships and to check up when they are due for re-registering and makes it easy for non-members to register. All information about the AOTA can be found online as well as who to contact in case you do not find what you are looking for.

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About The ATI Foundation

According to the ATI physical therapy website “The ATI Foundation is committed to aiding children with physical impairments, in need of medical resources and funding to enhance and sustain a better quality of life”. This foundation was founded in 2003 by ATI physical therapy. A large part of what ATI Physical Therapy stands for is to serve the community and give back through physical service, as well as though providing resources and knowledge to those who need it.

Mission, Values And Vision Of ATI Physical Therapy

Mission

The mission of ATI, as mentioned previously, is to ensure that children who have certain disabilities that can be treated through physical therapy do, in fact, receive the treatment that they need effectively and efficiently.

Values

The main values of ATI involve:

• Giving
• Sharing
• Enhancing

Specifically they give back to the community and to children in need, they share their skills and expertise with those who stand to benefit from it, and they actively work towards enhancing the community through their practices.

Vision

The vision of ATI includes the following aspects:

• Serve as a community partner focused on helping those in need by giving back to local communities through funding and providing additional resources.

• Provide support for beneficiaries by using representatives from many aspects of the healthcare industry in our programming and fundraising efforts.

• Become a trusted and respected foundation on a national level.

• Committed to a long-term effort to continue to give back and share resources within the communities served.

Reasons To Choose ATI

There are a number of excellent reasons to choose ATI, all of which are listed below in some detail. For more information visit this website.

• One-to-One Care: ATI physical therapy stands out because of the one-to-one care provided by physicians to each patient.

• Friendly & Professional Customer Service: The many reviews on the ATI website speaks for how well the organization as achieve its goal of providing excellent customer service.

• Dynamic & Encouraging Employees: The Company’s belief in its employees shows in the high standard of care provided.

• Large State-of-the-Art Facilities: The facilities provided by ATI are of only the best quality imaginable.

• Exceptional Rehabilitation Outcomes: F.I.R.S.T. stands for Functional Integration of Rehabilitation and Strength Training, the foundation of ATI’s work conditioning/hardening treatment program.

• Transportation Service for Patients

• Research & Development Department Committed to Improving Patient Outcomes: ATI engages in research in Basic Science: The F.I.R.S.T. Program, Evidence-Based Medicine:

• Outcomes Based Clinical Medicine, and Cost-Benefit Analysis: Quality of Care in Workers’ Compensation Rehabilitation.

• Internationally Recognized F.I.R.S.T. Work Conditioning/Hardening Program

• ATI Foundation- A Non-Profit Organization Benefiting Children in Need

• Training Center Dedicated to Continuing Education for ATI Professionals

• Specialized Services for Women: ATI Women’s Health is ATI’s innovative approach toward the comprehensive treatment of health care needs exclusive to women.

More information can be found about women’s health through ATI physical therapy by using the following information:

South Naperville
2940 Rollingridge Road
Suite 101
Naperville, IL 60564
Phone: 630.527.0485
Fax: 630.527.0917

Tinley Park
16651 S. Harlem Avenue
Tinley Park, IL 60477
Phone: 708.444.2838
Fax: 708.444.3031

Joliet
3080 Caton Farm Road
Joliet, IL 60435
Phone: 815.254.3901
Fax: 815.254.5196

Newark
Metro Professional Office
4923 Ogletown Stanton Road Suite 220
Newark, DE 19713
Phone: 302.351.0246
Fax: 302.998.2495

Services

Physical Therapy

ATIs staff are experts in physical therapy treatments for Back and Neck Pain, Arm and Shoulder Pain, Leg and Knee Pain, Foot and Ankle Injuries, Hand Injuries, Sports Injuries, Work Injuries, Post-Surgical Conditions, Personal and Auto Injuries, Fibromyalgia, Decreased Range of Motion, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Orthopedic Injuries, and Acute and Chronic Conditions. In addition they make use of many leading-edge techniques including manual therapy, therapeutic modalities, strength training, and cardiovascular conditioning.

Work Conditioning/Hardening

F.I.R.S.T, ATI Physical Therapy’s trademarked work conditioning/hardening program, is a goal-oriented treatment program designed to return injured workers back to their workplace.

Functioning Capacity Evaluations

Functional capacity evaluations are a means by which ATI determines the readiness of a patient to return to work following rehabilitation and a way for both the patient and their employer to know whether or not the patient can continue performing the same duties as in the past.

Aquatic Therapy

Aquatic therapy uses water, especially its inherent buoyancy, as a method of treating patients – in water patients are able to exercise without putting nearly as much strain on their muscles and other affected areas.

Hand Therapy

Hand and upper extremity therapy allows a patient to regain maximum use of their hand or arm following injury, surgery, disability, and disease.

Sports Medicine

ATI Physical Therapy is the Official Sports Medicine Provider for high schools, colleges, universities, clubs, organizations, and professional teams.

Sports Performance And Conditioning

The professionals at ATI will work together to design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive functional exercise program to suit your individual needs.

ATI Women’s Health

ATI Women’s Health is ATI’s innovative approach toward the comprehensive treatment of health care needs exclusive to women.

Employer Worksite Solutions

Because prevention is key in any condition, ATI physical therapy offers workplace solutions to decrease the risk of work-related injuries that can affect the productivity of a b7usiness significantly from occurring.

Complimentary Injury Screenings

ATI physical therapy offers free screenings of any injuries that you have incurred in order to put your mind at rest or to determine the exact extent of the injury that you are suffering from.

Locations

Illinois:

• Alsip
• Aurora (West)
• Aurora/Fox Valley
• Bloomingdale
• Bolingbrook (East)
• Bolingbrook (West)
• Bolingbrook South
• Bourbonnais
• Bourbonnais – Mooney Drive
• Broadview
• Carol Stream – Wheaton
• Chicago – Andersonville/Uptown
• Chicago – Avondale
• Chicago – Beverly
• Chicago – Michigan Avenue
• Chicago – Midway
• Chicago – North Park
• Chicago – South Loop
• Chicago – Wicker Park/Bucktown
• Chicago Bridgeport
• Chicago-Bricktown
• Chicago-Lincoln Park
• Corporate – Bolingbrook, IL
• Countryside
• Darien
• Des Plaines
• Downers Grove
• Elk Grove Village
• Elmhurst
• Evanston
• Forest Park
• Frankfort
• Geneva
• Glen Ellyn
• Hickory Hills
• Homer Glen
• Joliet
• Joliet Hand Therapy
• Joliet South
• Joliet West
• Joliet Women’s Health
• Lemont
• Lockport
• Lombard
• Matteson
• Minooka
• Morris
• Morris West
• Mount Prospect
• Naperville (East)
• Naperville (North)
• Naperville (South)
• Naperville Women’s Health
• New Lenox East
• New Lenox West
• Niles
• Oak Lawn
• Oak Park
• Orland Park
• Oswego
• Ottawa
• Park Ridge
• Plainfield
• Plainfield Hand Therapy
• Rockford
• Romeoville
• Schaumburg
• Shorewood
• Tinley Park
• Tinley Park Hand Therapy
• Tinley Park Women’s Health
• Training Center – Bolingbrook, IL
• Westchester
• Willowbrook
• Winfield
• Wood Dale
• Woodridge

Wisconsin:

• Brookfield
• Greenfield
• Kenosha
• Mequon
• Milwaukee East Side
• Milwaukee-Third Ward
• New Berlin
• Racine
• Sheboygan
• Waukesha
• Wauwatosa
• West Allis
• Whitefish Bay

Indiana:

• Anderson
• Bloomington
• Dyer
• Eagle Highland
• East Indy
• Fishers
• Franklin
• Greenfield
• Greenwood Center Grove
• Griffith
• Hammond
• Hammond South
• Lafayette
• Merrillville
• Munster
• Noblesville
• North Indy
• Northeast Indy (Castleton)
• Portage
• Shelbyville
• South Indy
• Southeast Indy
• Valparaiso
• West Indy

Delaware:

• Bear
• Corporate Center – Newark, DE
• DE Sportsplex
• East Dover
• Elsmere
• Glasgow
• Middletown
• Milford
• Millsboro
• New Castle
• Newark – Hand
• Newark – Spine and Orthopedics
• North Hand Center
• North Wilmington
• Pike Creek
• Seaford
• Smyrna
• South Dover
• West Dover
• Wilmington/Greenhill
• Women’s Health – Newark
• WorkZone

Maryland:

• Aberdeen
• Abingdon
• Bayview
• Bel Air
• Carney
• Elkton
• Elkton East
• Essex
• Forest Hill
• Havre de Grace
• Linthicum
• North East Maryland
• Reisterstown
• Rising Sun
• Rosedale
• Timonium

Pennsylvania:

• Avondale
• Doylestown
• Feasterville
• Jenkintown
• Jennersville
• Langhorne
• Lionville
• Northeast Philadelphia
• Oxford
• Royersford
• Thorndale
• Warrington
• West Chester
• West Grove

ATI Physical Therapy gives back to the community and offers a wide range of therapeutic services to a wide range of different people. As physical therapy organizations go, this is one of the better options to keep in mind. This is also true for physical therapists who are seeking employment in a well established and well thought of company. In the long run working for this company will make a substantial difference to your career path moving forward.

The post About ATI Physical Therapy appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Why Enroll In A Doctor Of Physical Therapy Program?

There are two main reasons to become a doctor of physical therapy:

1. You will be guaranteed of finding employment in the future
2. You will be provided with extremely comprehensive and in-depth training

The first point is related to the fact that APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) plans to make a doctorate the minimum level of education needed to become a physical therapist in the future. At the moment you don’t need a doctorate to be a physical therapist, but by 2020 you will. By earning a doctorate now you are guaranteed of still being able to find employment when the rules change. In any case the in depth training that you are given in a doctorate course is the best way to ensure continual success in the profession.

How To Become A Doctor Of Physical Therapy

The first step to becoming a doctor of physical therapy lies in completing a bachelor’s degree, preferably in the science field. Then you should volunteer as a physical therapy aide at local hospitals, clinics or other medical facilities in order to gain experience. Next you must obtain letters of recommendation to accompany your doctoral program application, examine the list of doctor of physical therapy programs provided on the American Physical Therapy Association website, apply to the doctor of physical therapy programs that interest you, complete your doctor of physical therapy program, and take and pass all required exams.

Benefits

There are three main benefits to becoming a doctor of physical therapy:

1. You will have a lot more autonomy. If you do not have a doctorate it means that you can only administer treatment to patients who have been referred by a physician. As a doctor you can enter into private practice.
2. In addition you will also have the higher level of expertise needed to keep up with the many medical and technological advances that are being made every day. This increased level of expertise may mean that you stand a higher chance of finding employment.
3. The salary, which will be discussed in more detail later, is much higher than that of a physical therapist without a doctorate.

Types Of Doctors In Physical Therapy

Orthopedic Physical Therapists

These types of physical therapy doctors are trained to treat disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system as well as rehabilitate patients after surgery. This is probably the best known area of physical therapy and this is where you will find many doctors of physical therapy working. The actual therapy that such a doctor administers can vary, but usually consists of things such as administering heat packs, cold packs, massage, water therapy and electrical stimulation. The main aim is to ensure that functioning is fully restored, and it is the prerogative of the physical therapist to determine how many sessions the patient will need in order to achieve his or her therapeutic goals.

Geriatric Physical Therapists

There are a number of ailments that only affect certain members of the population. For example there are many musculoskeletal ailments that seem to primarily be felt by the elderly. A geriatric physical therapist will usually work with older patients in his or her daily practice. The ailments that you may encounter if you choose to be a doctor of physical therapy in this particular arena include:

• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Cancer
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Hip and joint replacement

Clearly an elderly member of society has different needs in terms of physical therapy. In addition there are certain measures a physical therapist may have to put into place in order to ensure that treatment occurs safely as older adults tend to be frailer.

Neurological Physical Therapists

There are a number of neurological disorders and diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, ALS, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injury and even stroke, which result in poor motor functioning and other symptoms that fall within the domain of physical therapy. A neurological physical therapist is one who works with patients suffering from these neurological disorders, specifically by helping them recover as much of their physical functioning as possible. The main point in this line of work is that therapists work with patients to lessen the symptoms to help them get their independence back. That could also be considered as one of the main roles of a doctor of physical therapy – to help patience achieve a level of independence they may not otherwise have had.

Pediatric Physical Therapists

Like the elderly, pediatrics (which is generally taken to mean anyone younger than the age of 18) often need to be cared for in different ways to adults. This means that in the arena of physical therapy there needs to be doctors who are able to address the specific needs and ailments of children. Usually these treatments tend to focus on improving the fine motor skills of children with various congenital, neuromuscular, skeletal and developmental problems, along with balance and coordination. Strength and endurance are important as well as cognitive and sensory skills and these are all included in treatments if necessary. This is a fairly popular arena of physical therapy among new students, but it must be remembered that it is not the only option you have.

Cardiovascular And Pulmonary Rehabilitation Physical Therapists

These doctors of physical therapy focus mainly on assisting patients who:

• Have had cardiac surgery
• Have had pulmonary surgery
• Have heart disease

More specifically, patients who have had the following may need physical therapy of this kind:

• Heart attacks
• Post bypass surgery
• Pulmonary disease
• Fibrosis

The main aim of this type of physical therapy is to assist in clearing lung secretions. Consequently this is a highly skilled subsection of the physical therapy arena and requires years of advanced training in order to for you to become skilled enough to get a position in this line of work.

Salary

The following are the salaries that you can expect to earn in different physical therapy occupations:

• As a general physical therapist (where a doctorate is not necessary, but is often preferred) you can earn $62,019 a year

• As a licensed practical therapist (where a doctorate is not necessary, but is often preferred) you can earn $62,164 a year

• As a Staff physical therapist (where a doctorate is not necessary, but is often preferred) you can earn $62,333 a year

• As a pediatric physical therapist (where a doctorate is not necessary, but is often preferred) you can earn $57,861 a year

• As a clinical director of physical therapy (where a doctorate is usually a requirement) you can earn $71,713 a year

• As a physical therapist director (where a doctorate is usually a requirement) you can earn $72,830 a year

• As a lead physical therapist (where a doctorate is usually a requirement) you can earn $68,966 a year

List Of Schools Offering Doctorates In Physical Therapy

Not all schools that offer physical therapy qualifications have a doctorate option. Below is a fairly comprehensive list of the various schools through which you will be able to earn a doctorate in physical therapy in the US. It will be necessary to do your own research into each school to determine its suitability in your particular case.

• Alabama State University
• The University of Alabama at Birmingham
• University of South Alabama
• Northern Arizona University
• University of Central Arkansas
• Azusa Pacific University
• Chapman University, Orange
• Loma Linda University, Loma Linda
• Mount St Mary’s College, Los Angeles
• Samuel Merritt College
• University of California, San Francisco/San Francisco State University
• University of Southern California
• University of the Pacific
• Western University of Health Sciences
• Regis University
• University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
• Quinnipiac University
• The George Washington University
• University of Delaware
• University of Florida
• University of Miami
• University of South Florida
• University of St Augustine for Health Sciences
• Emory University
• Georgia State University
• Medical College of Georgia, Augusta
• Idaho State University
• Bradley University
• Midwestern University
• Northwestern University
• Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
• The University of Illinois at Chicago
• Indiana University
• University of Indianapolis
• Clarke College
• Des Moines University – Osteopathic Medical Center
• St Ambrose University
• The University of Iowa
• University of Kansas Medical Center
• Bellarmine University
• University of New England
• University of Maryland
• University of Maryland – Eastern Shore
• American International College
• Boston University
• MGH Institute of Health Professions
• Simmons College
• pringfield College
• University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Andrews University
• Central Michigan University
• Oakland University
• University of Michigan – Flint
• College of St Catherine
• College of St Scholastica
• Mayo School of Health Sciences
• University of Minnesota
• University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Rockhurst University
• Southwest Baptist University
• Washington University of St Louis
• The University of Montana – Missoula
• Creighton University
• University of Nebraska Medical Center
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey
• University of New Mexico
• Columbia University
• Daemen College
• Dominican College of Blauvelt
• Long Island University – Brooklyn Campus
• New York Medical College
• New York University
• State University of New York Upstate Medical University
• Stony Brook University
• The Sage Colleges
• University at Buffalo, State University of New York
• Utica College
• Duke University
• East Carolina University
• Elon University
• University of Mary
• University of North Dakota
• Pacific University
• Arcadia University
• Drexel University
• Duquesne University
• Gannon University
• Neumann College
• Saint Francis University
• Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
• Temple University
• Thomas Jefferson University
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
• Widener University
• Medical University of South Carolina
• University of South Carolina – Columbia
• Belmont University
• East Tennessee State University
• The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
• Hardin-Simmons University
• US Army-Baylor University
• University of Utah
• University of Vermont
• Hampton University
• Marymount University
• Old Dominion University
• Shenandoah University
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• University of Puget Sound
• University of Washington
• Concordia University Wisconsin
• Marquette University

As you can see there are a vast number of options to choose form. When making your decision about which physical therapy school you plan to do your doctorate through, you really need to be very careful as the school that you choose at this point in your career will go a long way to impacting the rest of your career as a physical therapist.

The school that you choose should be accredited and it should have a good reputation in terms of the ration of students who graduate from the school in comparison to the ratio of students from that school who pass the licensing examinations and find employment in the field of physical therapy. Becoming a doctor of physical therapy is a very prestigious and worthy qualification to strive towards and you will find that the job comes with a number of benefits and perks, such as an increase in salary. In addition you may be able to enter into private practice.

The post Becoming A Doctor Of Physical Therapy appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Sports physical therapists are usually also involved in the care of athletes who compete on a professional level. They manage the injuries of these athletes and help them work on their weaknesses so that they can advance in their careers. Generally, physical therapy is rehabilitative, so professional athletes use it when they have been injured playing in their particular sport. It can also be used to improve one’s physical abilities.

What Does Sports Physical Therapy Focuses On?

Sports physical therapy has to have certain areas of focus to help athletes and those who love physical activity recover from injuries quickly and get back to what they love doing. Some of these areas include:

• Speed – this is absolutely vital especially for professional athletes since often, it is their speed that allows them to excel. Especially when it comes to track athletes and other runners speed can be the difference between a gold medal and last place, and so using physical therapy to increase speed is often number one of the list of needs of all athletes.

• Mobility – the movement of certain body parts can become inhibited by injury or by the buildup of lactic acid. A pitcher in a baseball game for example, may find it harder and harder to rotate his shoulder, and this is when it becomes so important to use physical therapy. Without full mobility in a certain body part, it becomes close to impossible to keep up standards of performance, and for professional athletes this could mean the end of their careers.

• Balance – the importance of the core muscles in the human body cannot be stressed enough. Besides assisting in posture maintenance, the core, in conjunction with the ear canals, assist in good balance. How important is good balance? Well consider what would happen to a javelin thrower who did not have good balance. In their run up to throw the javelin they would be off kilter and would struggle to build up power for a good throw. Even for someone who played touch football, balance would be vital since without good balance, they would struggle to run in a straight line.

• Strength – the benefits of building up strength for athletes are quite obvious. No matter the sport, and no matter whether on a professional or beginner’s level, strength is the ultimate goal. In some, it is strength in the upper body, as with weightlifters, while in others it is strength in the legs, such as with long distance runners.

• Flexibility – being flexible is no longer just for gymnasts and those who practice yoga. It is absolutely vital to have a good range of flexibility in just about type of sport from baseball to dancing. Flexibility is not just about being able to twist yourself into the shape of a pretzel. It is about increasing your range of motion to increase performance, and a good physical therapy session, followed by specific exercises can really help with that.

• Coordination – if you play any type of sport that requires you to do more than one thing at a time, you need to work on coordination. People often don’t think too much about coordination, because as humans, we have it naturally. But what happens if you struggle to run and catch a ball at the same time? This is where physical therapy comes in.

• Stamina – if you’re going to excel in any type of athletics or sport, you need stamina. This refers not just to cardiovascular endurance, but to respiratory endurance too. The buildup of stamina can be a process that takes a long time, but with assistant from a physical therapist, it can be better planned.

How Sports Physical Therapists Do What They Do

For those who have never visited a physical therapist, the idea of doing so may be scary. You may be thinking that they have strange devices and weird oils and will practically put you into traction. This is not true, though there are some parts of physical therapy that may seem a little strange, such as dry needling. The process is actually quite simple.

When you arrive for your first session of sports physical therapy, the therapist will do an assessment to determine the extent of an injury or what you need help with. They will generally look at your patient history to try and determine the source of the problem and will do an evaluation. From this point, they will diagnose the problem. If you come in for example with a pain in your leg, they may need to ask a variety of questions before determining that the problem is an Achilles tendon injury.

From this point, they will prepare a prognosis for treatment. This will determine how many therapy sessions you will need, what exercises you should be doing and how they aim to care for you.

When starting each session, the physical therapist will generally alert you to the problem you are experiencing and how the sessions may help. It is vital to note here that not all injuries can be fixed, and thus the therapist alerts patients to the possibilities of living with their injuries. Pain management is the first and most important part of therapy. If you are in pain, you are less likely to want to participate in sport, and thus the therapist needs to help you manage the pain.

There are various treatments within the physical therapy session that a therapist may use to help patients and these include:

• Cold and heat – there is no doubt that cold and heat treatment benefits those patients who have injuries. Though this is a form of treatment that patients can engage in at home, having a professional to monitor it and administer the process correctly can make a big difference.

• Massage – due to the buildup of lactic acid during exercise, it can sometimes seem as if there is an injury when the muscles are actually stiff. The sports physical therapist is responsible for dealing with this through therapeutic massage. They aim to rub the muscles and release the buildup of lactic acid, thus freeing the muscles and alleviating the feeling of stiffness. This helps those who have lost a certain range of motion due to stiffness.

• Taping – in some cases, especially in the case of injury, it is not possible to help just with heat, cold and massage. This is when the therapist may advise taping the area to assist the muscles in recovering. The tape is a specialized sports tape that is administered in a specific way, based on the therapists training. The aim of the tape is to give the injured area a chance to rest.

• Dry needling – similar to acupuncture, this process involves using sterilized needles inserted into the muscles to stimulate the nerves and encourage healing. The difference here is that while acupuncture only requires the needle to be inserted into the first layer of muscle, dry needling sees the needle inserted deep into the muscle. This can cause some pain, but the simulation of nerves does help in creating more blood flow to the area and assisting in healing.

Part of the therapy that a sports physical therapist offers is exercises that the injured person can use at home to strengthen their injured muscles. These include strengthening and stretching exercises, both of which are important to improve mobility and help the injured person recover.

When to go see a sports physical therapist
By the time some people get to the sports physical therapist, a lot of damage has been done. This is why it is so important to know when to ignore a nagging pain, and when to go straight to therapy. Generally, a good rule of thumb for non-professional athletes to work with is that if a certain pain perseveres through three or more exercise sessions, it is time to go for physical therapy.

It is also important to determine whether the pain is in the muscle, the nerve and what kind of pain you are experiencing. If the pain is in the nerve, the type of pain is almost electrical in nature and can be extremely severe. This is the point where you should go a physical therapist immediately, or to a doctor, as there may be nerve damage.

A muscular pain is usually categorized in one of two ways. It is usually either a burning pain or a sharp pain. A sharp pain means there is some kind of muscle damage or the muscle is on the verge of damage. A sports physical therapist can assist here by providing the patient with exercises and therapy to combat the problem. A burning pain could be because the muscle is strained, or because of lactic acid buildup, both of which are highly treatable by the therapist.

Some of the most common injuries that people experience especially non-professionals include:

• Runners – Achilles tendon injuries are very common to runners, though they may experience other problems in the legs, such as hamstring sprains, lactic acid buildup in the quadriceps and calves and one of the most common, problems in the knees.

• Baseball, golf, softball – since a lot of the work is performed with the arms in this sport, the most common injuries include problems with the shoulders, sprains in the forearms and problems at the elbows.

• Dancing and gymnastics – because of the total body involvement in sports such as these, problems can encompass any body part from the neck to the ankles. This is very specific to these kinds of sports.

On a professional level, a sports physical therapist assists professional athletes while they are participating in certain sports. A therapist assisting a football for example, will help by massaging and preventing injuries during the game. Someone who has been recruited on an Olympic level has the responsibility of dealing with injuries that could put these athletes out of the game. This is why it is so vital that they have the correct information, the right tools and the right training.

Becoming A Sports Physical Therapist

If this career is one that you want to pursue, there are a few things you need to know about it. Firstly, the process of becoming a sports physical therapist implies that you need to know about human anatomy. This is vital since without this information, you will not know what to treat. Sports physical therapists generally study for three to four years, and then need to complete a year of internship at a community center or hospital. This assists them in preparing for whatever challenges their jobs may throw at them.

They will also need to have knowledge of all of the processes and procedures so commonly used in physical therapy, such as taping and dry needling, and when to use what type of therapy. A good physical therapist can assist a patient in identifying the problem, and then prescribe exercises and other forms of therapy to speed up recovery.

In essence, a physical therapist has a very specific type of job to do. This is not a job that is easy and definitely does not involve just rubbing sore muscles. A good physical therapist can make a very big difference to the life of an athlete and can ensure that they recover from an injury quickly enough that that injury does not affect their career. The work that they do can take them to strange locations, or they may practice from a base in a particular city. With either, they will see many types of patients, all with different injuries, and the knowledge of how to treat these injuries correctly is the biggest difference between an average sports physical therapist and a really good one.

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There are a number of health issues that are faced primarily or solely by women, which is why women’s health physical therapy procedures have been developed in order to address these issues. As a physical therapist there are a number of areas in which you can choose to specialize, with women’s health physical therapy being one of the slightly more popular options to consider.

What Is Women’s Health Physical Therapy?

Women’s health physical therapy is a specialty within physical therapy. It aims to treat problems that occur primarily in women. The problems can be from any point in the woman’s lifespan.

When considering a definition for women’s health physical therapy, womenshealthapta.org sums it up rather well:

“The emphasis of the health sciences on fitness and wellness has brought to women’s attention a need to pay closer attention to their bodies during recreation, work, and throughout life. Many physical therapists have specialized training which will benefit women with a variety of medical conditions. These therapists use every facet of their physical therapy training to evaluate and treat female clients, promoting and enhancing health through the life span. All treatments are individually designed after thorough evaluation”.

Some of the issues that a women’s health physical therapist may diagnose include:

• Pain during and after pregnancy
• Postpartum rehabilitation
• Perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms
• Urinary and fecal
• Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
• SI Joint Dysfunction
• Lumbosacral Strain
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic Pain & Headaches
• Osteoporosis
• Musculoskeletal Dysfunction

Many of these are specific to women, such as pain related to pregnancy, while other diagnoses involve conditions that are not limited to women, but that occur more frequently in women than in men, such as osteoporosis.

Pain Or Dysfunction Associated With Pregnancy Or Postpartum

Pain is not a normal part of motherhood, but there are a number of changes that can occur in a woman’s body when she has a baby. In addition her body is placed under new and perhaps unfamiliar strain once the baby is born as she may be required, for example, to bend down more frequently and carry a heavy baby. There are a number of issues that can arise as a result of this, and, as a physical therapist with specialization in women’s health, you will be required to diagnose the true causes of the aping in the patient and systematically create a treatment program that will relieve the symptoms. The symptoms that may occur in this regard are:

• Lower back pain
• Tail bone pain
• Pubic bone pain
• Pressure or heaviness
• Hand or wrist numbness or swelling
• Sacroiliac pain (The sacroiliac joint is in the low back where the spine meets the pelvis. Sacroiliac joint pain is discomfort in this area. This pain is a symptom that may come from a number of conditions or diseases)
• Calf cramps
• Headaches
• Incontinence

A women’s health physical therapist will learn the best physical therapeutic methods for dealing with these symptoms and ensuring that the patient is able to return to fairly normal functioning as soon as possible.

Urinary Incontinence

Although urinary incontinence can occur for a number of reasons, pelvic floor muscle weakness is the reason that you will be most interested in as a physical therapist with a specialization in women’s health physical therapy. There are a couple of statistics related to urinary incontinence in women which are pertinent to being a physical therapist in this line of work:

• Incontinence affects  15% of adult Americans
• 26% of women between 30 and 59 years have problems of this nature
• Many women restrict fluids to avoid losing control of their bladder
• More than 50% of nursing home residents have incontinence have problems. The majority of nursing home residents are female.

According to http://desert-springs-physical-therapy.com women’s health physical therapy “assists patients to restore pelvic floor muscle strength through exercise and biofeedback training to teach the correct way to perform Kegel exercises.  Treatment also provides education regarding normal function, stress management, and good toileting habits“.

A large part of your job as a physical therapist with a specialization in women’s health will revolve around educating patients in matters of this kind and helping them become aware that urinary incontinence is not inevitable and that, through the correct exercises and measures, it can be controlled and even, in some cases completely cured. This applies to elderly members of the population as well as new mothers suffering from incontinence problems.

Pelvic Pain Or Dysfunction

There are a number of diagnoses that can be used to explain pelvic pain. These diagnoses include:

• Chronic yeast infection
• Chronic urinary tract infection
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Vestibulitis
• Vulvodynia
• Dyspareunia

There are many symptoms, in addition, that are used to give a diagnosis of pelvic pain. These include:

• Burning
• Itching
• Rawness
• Aching
• Pelvic pressure
• Back pain
• Abdominal pain
• Tailbone pain
• Urinary urgency and frequency
• Pain with sexual intercourse
• Discomfort with tampon use

As a women’s health physical therapist you are interested in pelvic pain that is caused by the following:

• Musculoskeletal dysfunction such as muscle spasm
• Joint dysfunction
• Abnormal postures
• Weakness
• Decreased flexibility
• Any combination of the above

There are about 80 muscles that are connected to the pelvis. If there is an imbalance for whatever reason in any of these muscles, pelvic pain may arise as a result. This is in line with one of the main ideas that you will have already learned in the field of physical therapy by this point, namely that everything in the body is connected and dysfunction in one area of the body can cause pain in another.

Physical therapists can solve or improve the above mentioned problems through the following methods:

• Manual techniques
• Therapeutic exercise
• Relaxation training with biofeedback
• Postural education
• Movement strategies

Post Surgical Pain Or Loss Of Function

Surgical procedures that result in pain that you will be interested in as a women’s health physical therapist include, obviously, those procedures solely or most frequently performed on women. These procedures include the following:

• C-section
• Episiotomy
• Hysterectomy
• Breast surgery
• Abdominal surgery

It is not abnormal for pain to result due to such procedures as tissue could be damaged in the process. A physical therapist trained in women’s health is an expert in relieving these pains and creating a situation where the woman in question is able to return to her normal level of functioning. Women’s health physical therapists primarily see female patients. Usually they will only work with female patients. This means that there are a number of surgical procedures, such as transplant surgery and appendectomies, that can be performed on any gender that you may also need to treat should those procedures result in marked pain and discomfort for your patient. However you will be primarily trained in areas of the health care profession related specifically to issues faced only by women and will therefore focus on sexual and reproductive functions. If faced with a patient who has come to you for another reason a referral may be necessary if you feel under qualified to cope.

Perimenopausal & Menopausal

A condition that only women suffer from is menopause, and there are a number of physical bodily changes that are associated with this phase of the life cycle. In many cases these bodily changes can lead to discomfort as well as to pain and it is therefore the job of the women’s health physical therapist to find a way to relieve these symptoms and assist your patient in returning to normal functioning as soon as possible. The most common ailments that a woman at this stage of her life cycle may face include:

Post-Hysterectomy Adhesions and Deconditioning

• Osteoporosis
• Incontinence
• Joint Pain
• Fibromyalgia

There are a number of treatment options that can be considered for any of the above complaints, but it must be remembered that “each woman and her experience during menopause is unique” (atipt.com). This means that each woman will react differently. Consequently your job as the physical therapist who is working with menopausal patients is to ensure that you tailor your treatment methods and strategies in such a way that they suit the particular patient or patients under you care. An ability to adapt your treatment methods to suit particular patients is one that is required by physical therapists in all walks of life and who work in each of the subdivisions of the physical therapy industry.

Osteoporosis

According to thefreedictionary.com “The word osteoporosis literally means “porous bones.” It occurs when bones lose an excessive amount of their protein and mineral content, particularly calcium. Over time, bone mass, and therefore bone strength, is decreased. As a result, bones become fragile and break easily. Even a sneeze or a sudden movement may be enough to break a bone in someone with severe osteoporosis”. This is a condition that is primarily faced by women, although it is possible for a man to develop osteoporosis over time as well. Usually it affects women after menopause and onwards.

Common ailments and complaints that a woman suffering from osteoporosis may approach a physical therapist about include the following:

• Vertebral Fractures
• Kyphotic Posture
• Loss of Height
• Back Pain
• Respiratory Compromise

There are a number of standard treatment procedures used in women’s health physical therapy that can be used to address these issues. These include:

• Balance and Proprioception Training
• Postural Corrective Exercise
• Breathing Pattern Education
• Soft Tissue Mobilization
• Weight-Bearing Resistive Exercise
• Dynamic Flexibility Exercise
• Fall Prevention
• Modalities
• Prescription of External Supports

However the actual treatment methods undertaken and prescribed will depend on the patient herself as many factors, such as age and physical fitness, can affect the safety of the methods used.

Chronic Pain & Headaches

When it comes to chronic pain and headaches a number of diagnosis may be made:

• Myofascial Pain Syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches

The more common treatment options include:

• Correction of Postural Imbalances
• Aerobic
• Strength & Flexibility Training
• Progressive Aerobic Exercise
• Soft Tissue Mobilization
• Nutritional Guidance
• Relaxation Techniques

Headaches and chronic pain can be due to a number of different conditions and ailments, not all of which are treatable through physical therapy. It is therefore essential that you are absolutely certain that you are properly informed regarding the causes of the pain that your patient is experiencing. If you treat a patient with physical therapy who would, in fact, benefit better from surgery or another form of traditional medical treatment, you are not keeping the best interests of that patient in mind. If necessary, refer your patient to a health care professional who will be better equipped to help them. In addition you can never assume that your patient is an expert in their own physical condition. A patient’s ‘self-diagnosis cannot be relied on in order to begin physical therapy. During your physical therapy training you will be given guidance on how to assess a patient and determine what the likeliest route cause of the pain they are experiencing is as well as the best methods for treating that particular type of pain.

Many of the conditions and problems mentioned above are solely problems that can be faced by women. Even those that men could experience too, such as chronic pain and headaches, tend to be more frequently experienced by the female demographic of the population. As a physical therapists with a specialization in women’s health physical therapy you will, effectively, have a patient base that consists of half of the population, which means that your employment opportunities will never dry up and you will always be in demand as long as there are women in the world suffering from the above mentioned conditions.

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The American Physical Therapy Association (which will, from here on out, be referred to as APTA) is an association that exists to monitor and regulate the physical therapy profession. Like all medical professions out there physical therapy has to follow set standards and rules, and APTA is there to outline and determine those rules as well as to ensure that all who are required to adhere to them do so. This is in the best interests of the general public, but the main aim of the association is to protect the best interests of its members.

Membership & Benefits

There are a number of benefits for physical therapists as well as for physical therapy assistants who are members of APTA, although these benefits may be achieved in slightly different ways for PT and PTAs:

• APTA advocates for you in Washington, DC, and state capitals nationwide.
• APTA speaks out for proper payment for high-quality patient care.
• APTA promotes the benefits of physical therapy.
• APTA connects you with colleagues for networking and collaboration.
• APTA saves you money.
• APTA provides information at your fingertips.
• APTA promotes evidence-based practice.
• APTA strengthens your expertise with clinical and practice resources.
• APTA helps you advance to the next level.

In order to receive these benefits you must be a member of APTA.  The eligibility requirements for membership are fairly easy to adhere to:

• You must be a graduate from a CAPTE-accredited PT or PTA program.

• This program must be accredited at time of your graduation.

• Previous student membership in APTA is not a necessity for PT or PTA membership.

• Previous student membership in APTA is not a sufficient condition or qualification for PT or PTA membership.

• Proof of graduation may be required via submission of supporting documentation.

• Each state has its own licensure requirements so a copy of licensure would not be acceptable as proof of graduation.

Vision & Strategic Plan

The vision sentence for APTA is: “By 2020, physical therapy will be provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy, recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice to whom consumers have direct access for the diagnosis of, interventions for, and prevention of impairments, activity limitations, participation restrictions, and environmental barriers related to movement, function, and health”. The association’s comprehensive vision statement contains elements of the following:

• Autonomous Physical Therapist Practice: You must be allowed to work autonomously, and, in addition, you must be able willing to do so.
• Direct Access
• Evidence-based Practice
• Practitioner of Choice: The vision encompasses the ideal that PTs will be recognized as the preferred providers among consumers and other health care professionals for issues related to movement and bodily function.
• Professionalism: Physical therapists will be required to adhere to all of the norms and procedures that are related to professionalism.

Honors & Awards Program

The American Physical Therapy Association offers a number of awards and honors to those it deems worthy. These include the following:

Education Awards

• Dorothy Baethke-Eleanor J. Carlin Award for Excellence in Academic Teaching
• F.A. Davis Award for Outstanding Physical Therapist Assistant Educator
• Margaret L. Moore Award for Outstanding New Academic Faculty Member
• Minority Initiatives Awards
• Signe Brunnstrom Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching

Practice & Service Awards

• Henry O. and Florence P. Kendall Practice Award
• Lucy Blair Service Award
• Marilyn Moffat Leadership Award
• Outstanding Physical Therapist Assistant Award
• Outstanding Physical Therapist/Physical Therapist Assistant Team Award

Publications Awards

• Chattanooga Research Award
• Dorothy Briggs Memorial Scientific Inquiry Award
• Helen J. Hislop Award for Outstanding Contributions to Professional Literature
• Jack Walker Award
• Jules M. Rothestein Golden Pen Award for Scientific Writing

Research Awards

• Eugene Michels New Investigator Award
• Marian Williams Award for Research in Physical Therapy

Additional Awards

• APTA State Legislative Leadership Award
• PTA Recognition of Advanced Proficiency

Scholarships

• Mary McMillan Scholarship Award
• Minority Scholarship Award

Patient Care

Patient care is your primary roles as a physical therapist. Consequently there are a number of things that you need to know regarding how to care for a patient. This is in relation to the skills you need and the techniques that you must learn. However there is also a legal aspect to patient care that you need to be aware of. On the APTA website there are a number of resources that you can refer to which will provide you with detailed information regarding the following aspects of patient care:

• Guide to Physical Therapist Practice
• Balance and Falls
• Emergency Department & Physical Therapist Practice
• Family Violence
• Hospice and Palliative Care
• Hospital Readmissions
• Outcome Measures in Patient Care
• Oxygen Administration
• Physical Fitness for Special Populations (PFSP)
• Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care
• Seating & Wheeled Mobility
• Technology in Patient Care
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Vital Signs
• Wounded Warriors

Each of these resources (which can be found at http://www.apta.org/PatientCare/) is aimed at effective patient care that is in the best interests of the patient and the therapist.

Jobs At The American Physical Therapy Association

There are a number of jobs at APTA that you could do with the necessary qualification. In order to view the current job openings offered by the association you can visit http://www.apta.org/APTAJobs/.  There are a number of benefits that you will be eligible as an employee of APTA. Some of the more compelling ones are listed here:

• You will have flexible work schedules
• You will  have access to professional development
• You will  receive gym membership reimbursement
• You will  be given a Metro SmarTrip card subsidy

Generally speaking those who work for the association describe it as a great place to work that provides them with benefits and opportunities they would not have access to elsewhere. APTA has an extremely open employment policy and you will be able to get a job there regardless of your race, creed, color, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, or health status provided you meet the requirements of the job in question. APTA is committed to promoting cultural diversity throughout the profession and this includes creating a culturally diverse and representative work force in its own ranks.

About PT/PTA Careers

There are a number of career related information resources that APTA provides on its website. For one thing there are numerous PDFs that you will have access to detailing the statistics of the career path of physical therapists as well as physical therapy assistants. Comprehensive information regarding the function and roles of physical therapists and physical therapy assistants will also be found here. Part of the career information that you need to know for these career is what your scope of practice is and what you will be required to do in this line of work. The website also gives you insight by providing firsthand accounts from members who successfully become physical therapists and who have good job opportunities. Information exists for current physical therapists and physical therapy assistants as well as information for prospective students of physical therapy who are interested in knowing what their career outlook will be like if they do choose to pursue this course of study.

Licensure

In order to be a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant you need to be licensed:

• PTs are licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands
• PTAs are licensed or certified in 48 states (no license required in Colorado or Hawaii)

Once you have received your license through APTA you must remember to renew it on a regular basis. The renewal periods will be determined by the state in which you work as states can differ significantly in terms of their licensing laws. With this license you will be able to work as a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant within your defined scope of practice.

The reason why licensure and re-licensure is required for this profession is that it is important to ensure that the only the best candidates are allowed to practice as physical therapists. This maintains the quality of care received. In order to ensure that you meet the right level of quality you will be required to pass and write the comprehensive National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) which covers the entire scope of practice.

There are a number of very compelling reasons to become a member of APTA if you are a physical therapist. If you are able to join the American Physical Therapy Association you will not regret having done so. As associations aimed at regulating professions go, this is one of the better ones and you will find that your best interests are kept in mind at all times and that your needs as a physical therapist are met when necessary.

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There are several options open to you once you have a physical therapy assistant qualification. One of the lines of work that you may be interested in is that which involves being a travel physical therapy assistant. For this line of work you will have to be prepared to be away from home fairly often and this could have a negative impact on your relationships and life in general. Consequently this is not a line of work that is suitable for everyone. However it is an interesting option to consider given the many benefits that come with it.

Being A Travel Physical Therapy Assistant

There are two main prerequisites to being a travel physical therapy assistant. These are:

• A physical therapy assistant license
• A love for travel

If you have both of these prerequisites you are well on your way to fulfilling this career goal. Essentially what you require is a desire to help people while traveling all over the nation at the same time. There are very few jobs in which you can achieve this, but travel physical therapy assisting is most certainly one of them.

The job role and job duties of a travel physical therapy assistant are every similar to those of a traditional physical therapy assistant. You will:

• Help people who are suffering from injury or illness
• Help patients to recuperate mobility
• Help patients to use their limbs properly
• Use electrical stimulation for massaging affected tissues and muscles

The primary difference in job roles lies in the fact that, while a traditional physical therapy assistant works in one set location or area of employment, a travel physical therapy assistant performs all of the above duties while travelling from one location to another. The physical therapy assistants job starts by taking a medical history form the patient. This is beneficial for a number of reasons. For one thing it will make it clear to the physical therapy assistant what ailments the patient has suffered form in the past. These past ailments and injuries, as well as possible heredity illnesses, will affect how the physical therapy assistant is able to safely treat the patient. Once the medical history is taken the physical therapy assistant will be in a position to determine how to care for the patient and what treatment methods are best to use. Because travel physical therapy assistants do not work in set locations, this continuing care program may not be their responsibility from beginning to end, but rather on a temporary basis while they are in the area where the patient is. The aim is to help the patient recover from his or her injury or problem in such a way that they can function with as much mobility as possible in their daily lives.

Traditionally physical therapy assistants work in the following environments:

• Clinics
• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Schools
• Private homes

In addition you can choose between such things as working in rural or urban locations, or on the east coast as opposed to the west coast of the country. A travel physical therapy assistant will also work in these environments. The only difference is that, instead of being employed by a facility such as this, the PTA will be employed by an agency. This agency will assign the physical therapy assistant to various facilities across the country that need a physical therapy assistant desperately and for a temporary period of time. A PTA can be assigned to one of these facilities by their agency for a period of a few days, a few weeks, months, or even years depending on the nature of the work and assignment that they are being sent to complete.

There are a number of essential requirements that you will need to be a travel PTA:

• You will need a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy: This is the undergraduate degree that you will need to achieve at the beginning of your studies.

• You will need a master’s degree in physical therapy: This is a postgraduate degree required to be a travel physical therapy assistant.

• You will need the license that the physical therapists need to work in every state.

There are a nu8mber of fantastic benefits that come with the job, including but not exclusive to a higher income and a great many job perks, flexibility in your working hours and work schedule, the opportunity to experience new environments and live a dual location lifestyle, the chance to build your physical therapy assistant resume substantially, and the chance to benefit from the support that travel physical therapy assistants receive that other PTAs do not necessarily have.

High Income

The main benefit that travel physical therapy assistants report in their jobs is the fact that they are eligible to receive a higher income than physical therapy assistants that work in static locations. In fact the difference is as much as 15% – 20%. In addition you may be eligible to receive bonuses. Sometimes an agency will offer incentive bonuses to physical therapy assistants who complete lengthy travel assignments or who recruit new members into the agency. Normal physical t6ehrapy assistants can earn quite a good salary of about $46,100 to 63,830 a year. A physical therapy assistant who works for a travelling agency, however, can earn substantially more than that in a year. In fact they are eligible to earn about $110,000 annually. This the upper limit of the salary range, but even the average salary for travel physical therapy assistants is about $75,000, which is still substantially higher than the top end of the range for general physical therapy assistants. The salary is not everything, however, and you will need to weigh in the fact that you will not be able to lead a life in one location, as well as the physical demands for being a physical therapists in general and especially one who has to travel against the high salary that you can earn.

Flexibility

Flexibility is a major advantage of being a travel physical therapy assistant. Flexibility applies in a number of ways:

• If it is more convenient for you, you can choose to only work at certain times of the year. For example you could choose to take summers off so that you can spend more time with your children.

• You can choose where to work in terms of weather. You will be able to work in whichever climates across the country please you without having to commit to moving to another state where the climate is more appropriate.

• You will be able to work in the countryside while living in the city, or work in the city while living in the countryside. In a way this means that you can have your cake and eat it.

If you feel that you need to take some time off, you will be able to do so with very little difficulty, provided you do not try to take leave while in the middle of an assignment. Although many agencies require you to work a minimum number of hours a year in order to remain a member, there will still be more flexibility for you to choose when to work than in a traditional position. For example, you could work for a half a year and take the second half of the year off.

Different Work And Living Environments And Dual Location Lifestyle

Being a travel physical therapy assistant is a great way to start your career in this line of work. This is because you will have the opportunity to try a number of different employment settings across the country. This in turn will make your decision regarding where and in what industry you would like to settle down in as a permanent physical therapy assistant at a point in the future. Many travel physical therapy assistants never settle down, however. It is a good idea to get an understanding of where you could work most effectively if you did one day choose to become a permanent employee somewhere. In addition form having the opportunity to experience different work environments you will also be exposed to a number of different living environments that you may not have otherwise been exposed to. This will widen your options if you ever decide to move and give you a clear picture of where you would enjoy living and where you would be unhappy. If, for some reason, you have a dual lifestyle and need to be in different parts of the country at different times, a great way to do this without impacting on your career is by being a travel physical therapy assistant. For example this is quite convenient for PTAs who spouses live in different parts of the country.

Build Your Resume

A very important advantage of being a travel physical therapy assistant is that you will have the opportunity to build your resume. In general it will help you to improve your career. This is done in a number of ways:

• Firstly, because you will be working in so many different locations, you will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience in a number of different physical therapy roles and employment areas. This will mean that you will almost always have the “required experience” that is specified in a job advertisement. In addition this will provide a prospective employer with ‘evidence’ that you are able to perform a number of different roles as well as take on many different responsibilities in an independent manner and that you are reliable in all aspects and skills of the physical therapy profession.

• You will be given the opportunity to network with other PTAs and health care professionals across the country. When the need arises for you to find a job in a certain location with the intention of setline down you will have a number of employees across the country to call on who are aware that you are a good worker that can be relied on based on their experience with you when you were a travel physical therapy assistant.

Support In Travel Physical Therapy Assistant Jobs

Physical therapy assistants often wonder how they will cope if they choose a career in travel physical therapy. However, if you are a physical therapy assistant who travels, you will receive a great deal of support from the agency that you work for. There are a number of concerns that tend to crop up in the minds of physical therapy assistants with regard to employment in the travelling section of the profession. These includes things like how they will choose an apartment if they are going to travel so often and change their address all the time, how they will receive their paychecks if they are never in one location for very long, and how they will get their paperwork ready for their next assignment. These are all things that the agency that you work for will help you with, meaning that there will be a great deal of support offered to you by the people that you work for. If you do become a travel PTA you will be able to ask all of the questions that are on your mind and you will never be entirely alone. There will always be a support structure in place somewhere that you can call on to get the aid you need in a tough situation or simply if you need a bit of practical advice on the best way to go forward.

Thus there are a great many benefits to being a travel physical therapy assistant. However you will need to determine at a very personal level whether this lifestyle is in line with how you prefer to live or if it will hinder you from being who you really are. If the pros outweigh the cons, then this is the ideal profession for you to strive towards becoming an expert in.

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If you are in hospital, you may have a physical therapist who will evaluate your bed mobility, and they will advise you on ways to get in and out of bed and how to also  perform certain exercises to keep your muscles strong and flexible while you are in the hospital.

Physical Therapy Has Always Used Natural Therapeutic Methods

Physical therapy has evolved from centuries of using natural therapeutic methods, and today the modern form of physical therapy began to really come into its own after the first World War when injured soldiers were in need of these type of services to relieve pain and to restore mobility to  injured limbs. The outbreak of poliomyelitis in the 1950s brought on many patients, both child and adult, in need of therapy. People affected by the disease who desperately in need of something that would help them to regain their  independence and their ability to earn a living by being mobile.

Today modern physical therapists are still using cold and heat, electricity as well as massage to restore strength. Massage is a physical therapy that relaxes and strengthens the soft tissues of the body, using a variety of hands-on-techniques. The soothing massage helps to relax the mind as well as the body, relaxing muscles, easing stiff joints and promoting circulation. Other benefits to this physical therapy is that it stimulated lymphatic drainage. Physical therapy history has always included massage, which is one of the oldest forms of remedial therapy and has been practiced for thousands of years. Ancient Chinese medical texts written more than 5 000 years ago make references to massage, and there is also evidence that it was practiced in India, Japan and Egypt more than 3 000 years ago.

Different Types Of Massage

More than 100 different types of massage are practiced today, and the most common forms are based on the principles of Swedish massage established by Peter Hendrik Ling. Some massage techniques are Effleurage, which is a stroking movement that soothes and relaxes, as well as Pettrisage which is a kneading movement that stimulates the tissues. There is also Friction, which is small circular movements aimed at releasing tension and blockages. Modern massage techniques include therapeutic massage, sports massage, infant massage, deep tissue massage, shiatsu, reflexology, aromatherapy and applied kinesiology. Massage is effective for treating disorders like sprains, strains, arthritis, anxiety, backache, swelling and insomnia and is also safe to use during pregnancy. Infant massage is a very specialized form of massage.

The physical therapist is well learned in the muscles and joints and how to exercise them and devices that apply pressure and on which resistance can be adjusted are used in the exercise program.

A Hands-On  Non-Surgical Treatment

Osteopathy is also a type of physical therapy and is a manipulative therapy that works on the body’s structure, skeleton, muscles, ligaments and connective tissue. Tension in muscles and misaligned bones place a strain on the body, and by adjusting the framework, this strain is relieved which allowing the free functioning of all the body systems. Physical injury, poor posture and emotional states such as anxiety can cause misalignment or muscular tension. Osteopathy used a variety of manipulative techniques to relax tight muscles and realign bones. Direct treatment techniques include soft-tissue massage, to release tension or fibrous knots cause by tension, articulatory movement techniques, where the joints are moved passively , often in a stretch; high -velocity thrust techniques which are sudden movements used to click joints back into position.

The physical therapist will take the patient’s history and conduct a physical examination which is made up of posture evaluation. The therapist will test movement and joints and will indicate the extent of the problem and what manipulative techniques are required.

Massage And Exercise Go Way Back

Looking at physical therapy history, in 1894, English nurses formed the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, and soon after other countries began with their own training programs. In the United States way back in 1914, physical therapy was introduced at the Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC, and in fact some of the first physical therapists graduated. The history of physical therapy is interesting. Early Greek and Roman writings also make reference to the benefits of water, exercises and massage, and today’s common practices of using exercise, massage, water, heat and cold dates back to Greek culture and Hippocrates. In Europe, from the 1500s, the use of exercise to treat muscle and bone disorders and disabilities progressed so that by the 1800s, they were used for a variety of orthopedic diseases and injuries.

Physical Therapy Used To Treat Those Injured During Wars

American orthopedic surgeons trained young women graduates of physical-education schools to care for their patients, and reference is made to these young women treating patients in 1916 when an  epidemic of poliomyelitis struck. After World War II physical therapy became very popular and was used in the care of patients injured in the war. A special unit of the Army Medical Department also developed fifteen training programs to respond to the need for medical workers with expertise in rehabilitation.  In 1921, Mary McMillan founded the American Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association. The name later changed to the American Physical Therapy Association, also known as APTA. Mary was known as The Mother of Physical Therapy.  The year of 1921 will also be remembered in history because it was the year when  national accreditation of physiotherapy programs was introduced.   Physical therapy in the 1950s was highlighted during the Korean War as well as  continued polio epidemic. A vaccine for polio was developed to put an end to polio, but those who had contracted polio before the vaccine continued to need physical therapy treatment.

By 1959, there were state regulations for physical therapists  in many of the states  which actually led to the first national examination in 1954 and by 1967 most of the states required licensure laws. Physical therapists began to discover new options to improve patient function, and advances in technology began to ensure that the techniques and treatments began to change and improve, and Congress adopted the Education of All Handicapped Children Act in 1975, opening up new new avenues for physical therapists within the public school system. Changes in the USAs health care delivery system throughout the 1990s, influenced physical therapy and different Acts over the years have been implemented to challenge  physical therapists to provide quality services to patients.

Some Physical Therapy History From University Of Kansas

The physical therapy program at the University of Kansas Medical Center had their  first group of students admitted into their program in 1944 already and they received their first accreditation in 1945. In 1988 the University of Kansas was the first to offer an entry-level Master of Science in Physical Therapy but by 1990 the Bachelor of Science degree was phased out. In June 2004 the university launched their new three-year Doctor of Physical Therapy  program which ended the future for the Master of Science degree. After their most recent review by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, they were awarded full accreditation for a period of 8 years, and today their exceptional faculty produces research papers each year.

Mobility Impairment Is Found in People Of All Ages

Mobility problems, contrary to what many people think, are not reserved for the elderly, but for treating young adults, children as well as tiny babies.  On top of that mobility impairment can also be as a result of someone being born with something like cerebral palsy, and in this instance, the movement of your arms and legs are limited.  Those people with diabetes could also become immobile, because of problems with blood circulation.

Physical therapy is offered by physical therapists who are licensed health care professionals. These medical professionals have different levels of training, and have master’s or doctorate degrees in  physical therapy.  The evaluate and create a physical therapy treatment plan; tailoring a plan to each  individual’s needs.

Physical therapy is enormously useful in treating many different medical disorders as well as sport injuries, cardiopulmonary diseases as well as neurological and muscular illnesses.

Some disorders that can cause problems with mobility are:

• hemiplegia – paralysis on one side of the body because of a stroke or brain injury

• cerebral palsy – a disorder which brings about  bad coordination and involuntary movements of the muscles

• multiple sclerosis – a disorder of the nervous system and deterioration of the nerve tissue

• quadriplegia – damage to the spinal cord in the cervical region causing impairment to the hands and arms

• paralysis – the loss of feeling in certain parts of the body

• paraplegic – paralysis of the lower extremities; loss of sensation and possibly loss of bowel and bladder control

Physical therapy can really be a relief-treatment for those who are finding it hard to move around and complete their everyday tasks, and this in itself brings about feelings of helplessness and depression. Sometimes even attempting to move around can bring about tremendous pain, whereas physical therapy can certainly improve and even restore your physical function and your fitness levels. Physical therapists have as their goal to make your life easier, and with effective physical therapy from reputable and accredited physical therapists you will soon be helping yourself in and out of bed and also be able to negotiate moving up a flight of stairs on your own.

Where Can I Fet Physical Therapy?

There are a number of places where you can get physical therapy, and some of these are nursing homes, clinics, hospitals, schools, at sports clubs and even in your own home. Remember to look out for certified physical therapists so that you get the best treatment you can, You will want a therapist who has experience with your particular health problem.  There are physical therapists who are  board-certified in specialized areas like sports, orthopedics,  geriatrics, and neurology. They also specialize in bones, ligaments, muscles, tendons and joints. 

How Do Physical Therapist Determine Your Problem?

Your physical therapist  will first examine you and determine your mobility and flexibility before they design a treatment plan for you. Once they have established this they set about creating a program that with restore your strength, flexibility, endurance and balance. The mission of the therapist is to also reduce your pain when you do start to move around. Physical therapy always includes exercise, and these exercises can include stretching, weight lifting and walking. Not only does the physical therapist give you exercises to do at the clinic or hospital, they also show you and teach you how to continue doing the exercises at home. Apart from the exercises, treatment will also include manual therapy like electrical stimulation, ultrasound and hot and cold treatments.

Conclusion

They beauty of physical therapy today is that by having physical therapy from highly qualified physical therapists, you can actually avoid having to have surgery. It has always played an important role in  health care, contributing to a worthwhile quality of life for patients by keeping them healthy and active, and that huge draw card, the avoidance of surgery. In the 21st century, physical therapy is still being widely used and is in great demand, only these days the treatment is far more effective. Physical therapists today undergo thorough and intensive training, and physical therapists are accomplished professional practitioners who add quality of life to their patients. When you are battling with mobility impairment and you are in pain, try putting yourself in the capable hands of  physical therapists and see how life takes on new meaning as you become more able to do all those day to day tasks on your own.

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Physical therapists also assist patients recovering from operations and are often an important part of the rehabilitation, treatment and care of patients suffering from chronic conditions or diseases. Physical therapists also play an important role in helping to keep the elderly healthy and mobile for much longer by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs which will promote healthier and more active lifestyles.

Physical therapists (PTs) provide services to help patients to develop maintain or restore functionality and mobility by incorporating physical, emotional and psychological methods into their treatments. Techniques employed include the use of assistive and adaptive devices and equipment, applying heat and cold, hands-on stimulation or massage, which means that they require a whole host of different physical therapy skills.

Physical Therapy Duties

PTs have to perform a wide range of tasks within their day to day jobs, and apart from treating patients with various modalities and different types of equipment, they also:

• Oversee the work of physical therapist assistants and aides
• Consult with physicians, surgeons and other specialists
• Use various methods to diagnose a patient’s dysfunctional movements by listening to their concerns, watching them stand, watching them walk, and move about, to see exactly where and to what degree they are dysfunctional
• Devise an exercise plan for patients, outlining the goals and the planned treatments
• Evaluate patient progress, modify treatment plans and try new treatments as required
• Discuss problems and exercise regimens with patients and their families
• Educate patients and their families as to what to expect during the patient’s recovery period and how best to cope with what happens

Education

The necessary education requirements must be achieved in order to become a physical therapist. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that school students learn the skills necessary to become a physical therapist by taking classes in chemistry, biology, human growth, biomechanics, physics, therapeutic procedures and examination techniques.

License

According to the College of Health Professionals, all potential physical therapists need to acquire the necessary skills to pass a rigorous licensing exam. Each state regulates its own practices of physical therapy, which means that eligibility requirements differ from state to state, so it is important that you find out what the requirements are in the state in which you intend to practice. It is important that you pass the licensing exam in order to get licensed and imbue the state, potential employers and patients with a sense of faith and trust in your abilities as a physical therapist.

Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for physical therapists is expected to increase by a whopping 39 percent during the 2010 to 2020 decade, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations. This demand for physical therapy skills will mainly come from the aging baby boomer population, who are staying active later in life than previous generations did due to innovations in modern medicine.

Required Physical Therapy Skills

An individual desiring to enter into the physical therapy profession needs some very specific physical therapy skills, according to the American Physical Therapy Association, so it would be wise to ensure that you have these skills

1. Adaptation Skills

The physical therapy profession is constantly changing as new research into the best forms of patient care is constantly being done. When new treatments are discovered, which happens fairly often, physical therapists need to adapt their physical therapy skills in order to incorporate the new procedures into their treatment regimen.

2. Basic Office Skills

Physical therapists need good language skills such as basic spelling, grammar and punctuation skills. They also need to have skills in typing, data entry and 10-key skills. These may seem like strange physical therapy skills, but they are necessary as physical therapists are in constant e-mail communication with other medical professionals and often need to prepare detailed customized instructions for patients, including exercise regimens. Many physical therapists are also required to write PT articles to be published in sports-related consumer magazines and professional journals.  Physical therapists also need to know how to use common software such as MS Word, Excel and Outlook.

3. Communication

Physical therapists work with patients, their families and many other professionals, so they need to have very strong interpersonal physical therapy skills in order to facilitate their education of patients and their families about disorders, treatment and prevention. Patients generally respond much better to treatment when they fully understand what the recommended treatment is, why it is necessary, and why they are having the problems they are with their bodies. Effective phone skills and effective verbal communication are also required.

4. Cognitive/Behavioral Skills

Cognitive and behavioral skills are a big part of the skill set that are required, as physical therapists are required to do a fair amount of problem solving and diagnosing, which means that the use of computers to search, record, analyze and store data is essential. Skills that fall under this set of physical therapy skills include the ability to:

• Collect and integrate data about patients in order to problem-solve safely and effectively.

• Handle the emotional stress of working with patients in need of compassionate health care.

• Read, comprehend and analyze patient information.

• Comprehend and effectively communicate orally and in writing, in English, using the appropriate vocabulary and grammar.

• Render unprejudiced assistance to individuals from across the cultural spectrum.

• Maintain a personal hygiene regimen that is consistent with up close and personal contact associated with patient care.

• Prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

• Interact effectively with patients, their families, supervisors, and colleagues, regardless of their sexual orientation, race, ancestry, national origin, gender, culture, religion, age, or disability.

• Abide by the Rehabilitative Health Department and PTA Program policies and procedures.

• Portray professional behavior at all times and under all circumstances, including academic and professional responsibility, ethics, professional presentations, and commitment to learning.

5. Interpersonal Skills

One of the really important physical therapy skills is the ability to demonstrate integrity, empathy, and motivation. The job can get very stressful and it will sometimes take all you have to maintain your emotional health in order to meet all the responsibilities and exercise sound judgment. Teamwork is also very important as you will generally work as part of a team.

6. Motor Skills

A PT must be able to evaluate a patient’s condition through touch, to perform procedures involving grasping, pushing and pulling, fingering, holding, extending and rotation. They need to be able to carry heavy objects, stand in and maintain awkward positions, lift and transfer patients and perform many other unusual tasks that call for good motor skills.

7. Observational Skills

Observational skills are integral to the physical therapist profession, as a PT must be able to acquire a complete medical history from the patient, family or guardian, observe demonstrations and patients, and examine patient’s skin color, odors, skin texture, and other anatomical features for diagnostic purposes. Good hearing, touch sight, and smell are very important physical therapy skills to have.

8. Physical Skills

The job of a physical therapist is very physically demanding, and this means that you need to be able to lift 50 pounds minimum, as you will often be called upon to conduct facilitated stretching exercises, and act as a spotter when patients make use of specialized equipment. Apart from the above skills, the following physical skills are also very important:

• The ability to feel muscle tone, pulse, and bony landmarks
• The ability to listen to, hear and respond to calls for assistance, timers, monitors, and verbal directions.
• The ability to hear heart and lung sounds, which is especially important when dealing with patients with lung problems
• The ability to climb when assisting or instructing a patient on the stairs
• The ability to bend, twist, and lift safely in order to assist a patient moving from one surface to another
• The ability to perform the chest compressions required to perform Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
• The ability to detect odors such as environmental hazards, smoke, equipment that is burning, spills, and pathophysiological conditions
• The ability to visually observe and assess a patient from 10 feet away
• The agility to move rapidly so as to ensure patient safety
• The ability to identify and diagnose color changes on the skin
• The ability to respond speedily to an auditory or visual timer
• The physical capacity to work a 40 hour week during clinical affiliations
• The ability to apply manual resistance to a patient’s leg, arm or torso during an exercise regimen
• The ability to kneel, reach, crouch, push/pull, and crawl to assist patients to perform exercises or do them for the patient are very important physical therapy skills
• Adequate manual dexterity to safely grip and manipulate small articles and dials
• The balance, coordination and strength to safely assist, guard and protect a patient negotiating a stairway with an assistive device
• The ability to respond quickly to a visual or auditory patient call button
• The visual acuity to read  and set scales, digital displays and dials on equipment, and to read from the medical record

9. Stress Management Skills

The job of a physical therapist is very stressful and demanding, and one of the physical therapy skills that is of the utmost importance to you personally is the ability to handle stress with panache and maintain your cool in front of patients and colleagues

10. The Desire to Help Others

Becoming a physical therapist is, like many other jobs in the medical profession, more than just a job; it is a calling, which means that you must have a desire to help others and be truly interested in making a change for the better in their lives and helping them to get their lives back on track

11. Technology Skills

Technology is a big part of physical therapy, from entering data into a patient’s e-file or a database to using various forms of modern technology to perform diagnoses, and do exercises. Being technologically inclined will also help you to adapt easily to new medical technologies that are released often

12. Treatment

Physical therapists must know how to examine patients and test them for coordination, strength, balance, and range of motion.Poncethe tests have been compiled you will need to create a treatment plan which will include exercises that will promote endurance, strength and flexibility. Other treatment physical therapy skills include being able to utilize various modalities such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation to forestall pain and swelling, and the use of hot packs and ice. Physical therapy is not all about exercising; it also includes therapeutic massages and deep-tissue massage to help improve circulation and motion in the body.

As a physical therapist you may see patients in a hospital setting or in a medical office such as an orthopedic setting, or in private practice. Patients are generally referred by a physician who prescribes physical therapy treatment as a part of their patient’s recovery, and this may entail massages, the use of weights, treadmills, mats, and various other modalities and technological equipment.

A physical therapist’s job is very strenuous for the most part, and they spend most of the day either on their feet or involved in physical work, so endurance and the ability to relax and recharge after work are two more very important personal physical therapy skills that you need to have in order to be a successful physical therapist.

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There is a growing demand for skilled geriatric nursing staff in a realm of different settings. And this type of nursing is going to see substantial growth in the near future. Physical therapy is part of rehabilitative health where  exercise and equipment are used which are specifically designed to help people to regain their physical abilities. People might need to pursue physical therapy anytime they experience a problem while moving  and which  prevents them from performing the activities of daily living.

Implementing The Best Health Care

The aged need to be treated in ways that are going to be of benefit, and which do no harm or as little harm as possible. Functional, psychological and social issues are assessed to assist with planning and implementing the best individual health care.

Geriatric physical therapy is a medical specialty, covering a range of concerns regarding people as they age. Some of the conditions treated with this kind of physical therapy are cancer, arthritis, alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis and joint replacement, amongst others. The idea behind the therapy is to restore mobility, but also to reduce pain. It can be a wonderful relief for older patients to have their strength and mobility restored, and this instantly gives them back their confidence.

Falling – A Major Concern With The Elderly

Older people fall often, in nursing homes and at home. These falls often lead to hip fractures and a general deterioration of health. Thousands of old people fall and these falls often put them out of action and into hospital. Without physical therapy, many of them never return to their previous level of mobility. Physical therapy plays an important role in restoring strength and independence to the old person, and unlike outpatient facilities, one-on-one attention is often provided to the aged person in the comfort of their own home.

For instance, and elderly person’s balance may also deteriorate and with geriatric physical therapy, a regular activity program will help to restore and maintain balance. The physical therapist always starts slowly, making sure that the old person is not involved in anything that will make them feel unsteady, and as their balance improves, new activities are introduced.

There Are Different Kinds Of Geriatric Physical Therapy

Education is a very important part of geriatric physical therapy and those involved with the physical therapy program are taught to perform all their daily tasks in a safe way, as well as how to make use of their assistive devices in the correct way.  Exercise is the physical activity that does not include the person’s daily tasks. The particular exercises that are specifically chosen are geared towards  restoring and maintaining a person’s co-ordination, flexibility and strength.

The exercises are carefully thought out so that they can reduce the chance of further injury through falling.  The type of exercises include things like weight lifting, aquatic therapy, walking, stretching as well as general exercises that are designed and tailored around the person’s particular injury.
Manual  therapy is very useful because it works to improve blood circulation and to restore flexibility and mobility. The therapy also reduces pain.

Learning How To Become Mobile With Orthotics

Geriatric physical therapy is all about helping the elderly person. Many of these old people have to learn all over how to achieve movement with orthotics or prostheses. Balance training,  artificial limb fitting and training, and motor control training are all part of physical therapy. The physical therapy also assists with bed mobility and transfer; getting in and out of bed as well as in and out of a wheelchair. When it comes to getting in and out of beds and wheelchairs, weight also comes in to play, and the physical therapists also help with weight management. A person’s body weight changes as they grow older and there is a decrease in muscle mass and an increase in fat mass. Keeping physically active will help to maintain a healthy body composition.

What Kind Of Therapist Perform The Physical Therapy?

The physical therapists love their work and work one-on-one with their patients. They first evaluate their patients because they want to get an idea of what they can actually do. They then create a geriatric physical therapy program around the person’s particular problem. They often work with other health care providers, and together as a team, they perform their physical therapy so that it completely  benefits the person receiving it.

Some physical therapists are certified in areas of specializations, and  geriatric physical therapy is a major specialization. Once these physical therapists have become licensed, they can work in any number of settings, some of which are hospitals, clinics, sports clubs or nursing homes. They also learn different ways to treat people, but exercise always is one of the more important aspects of it. They also use manipulation as a form of therapy and ice, hot packs or ultrasound are some of the techniques they use to achieve success.

Of course, the physical therapists are well trained and will have graduated from an accredited college. They will have completed a bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree with specialty clinical experience in physical therapy. They will also have had to meet licensure requirements in the state they work and live in. The geriatric physical therapist is always ready to offer advice and to help the old person understand all the changes that will naturally occur with the aging process and how it is best to accept the changes in a peaceful and accepting way.

By making use of specially selected exercises and  educational information they improve the overall well-being of their patients and simply help them towards a better quality of life.

Regaining Functional Independence

Physical therapists work with people to help them meet the challenges they face related to an illness or injury. Their goal is to assist people to regain functional independence and return to a full life at home and in their community. Physical therapists work with the person’s doctor and other members of the person’s health care team to design a therapy program that focuses on meeting the person’s recovery goals.

Stretching Guidelines

Everyone can learn to stretch because it helps to create a balance or to prevent an imbalance between muscle that may subject to chronic tightness due to daily inactivity. Stretching is extremely beneficial and helps to increase circulation, decrease the incidence of muscle strains, reduce muscle tension, increase range of motion and co-ordinate easier movement.

Static stretching consists of slow, gradual and controlled movements, involving the sustained lengthening of the muscle and joint for about 40 seconds. The muscle is stretched to a point of tension, but not pain. It is popular because it is the least likely stretching exercise to cause injury.

Examples Of Stretching Exercises

An example of stretches for the back is to stand upright with your arms straight above your head. Grasp your fingers with the palms facing upwards. Reach up as far as possible. This exercise stretches the trunk, shoulders and arms. A stretching exercise for the chest will be to place your hands behind you, interlock your fingers and straighten your arms. Try and lift your arms upwards and backwards as far as possible.

• increased strength and endurance leads to more flexibility and less falls and injuries
• the exercises result in less stress and more energy
• the exercises lead to a better night’s sleep
• patients have a sense of accomplishment and this improves their self confidence

There are a number of conditions that are more common among the older generation and these conditions can be effectively treated through geriatric physical therapy.  Some of these ailments are:

• dementia
• pressure ulcers
• muscular dystrophy
• long term breathing problems
• arthritis
• cancer
• balance disorders
• incontinence
• cardiac and pulmonary diseases
• stroke
• parkinson’s disease
• joint replacements
• hip fractures

Pressure Ulcers Due To Lack Of Movement

Pressure sores, also known as bedsores are localized injuries to the skin and tissue and when they ae left untreated, they can be life threatening, particularly in the elderly. The pressure ulcer develops because of the person’s lack of movement and the fact that the old person’s skin has become a lot thinner, making them more susceptible to skin damage. The elderly who sit for long periods of time in a wheelchair for instance, those who have a chronic condition,  those who are malnourished and those who have incontinence are more prone to these pressure ulcers.  They can be prevented, but they can  occur even with excellent nursing care.

Geriatric physical therapists tailor a plan of care for their elderly patients suffering from pressure injury. Their focus is on wound healing and comfort for the patient  is also a top priority.

Cardiovascular Disease

This is a disease that affects the heart as well as the blood vessels. Blood pressure tends to increase with age as blood vessels lose their elasticity and artherosclerosis may narrow th diameter of the blood vessels. Cardiovascular disease is common in 50% of the population over the age of 65, and accounts for 40% of deaths in this group. Regular exercise will help to maintain a healthy blood pressure and it will also reduce hardening of the arteries.

Osteoporosis

This common condition is a result of a decrease in bone mineral density and places elderly people at risk for increased bone fractures, especially of the hop. With geriatric physical therapy, the therapist plans regular physical activity for the old person, especially weight bearing exercises as this helps to maintain bone mineral density. There are other exercises such as walking where the body bears its own weight, compared to non-weight bearing exercises such as swimming where body weight is supported by the water. Low impact activities are the safest, especially for those people with arthritis or orthopaedic conditions.

As with all exercises for the elderly, the geriatric physical therapist looks out for warning signs during exercise programs, looking out for  severe shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, dizziness, excessive perspiration, cramps or nausea.

There are many benefits of physical therapy for the elderly, and it is a fantastic way for creating safety for the future because it helps strengthen and improve balance.

Conclusion

Approaching age need not mean a time of fighting off aches and pains and spending a lot of time in hospital. Geriatric physical therapy is an excellent way for elderly people to improve balance and strength and stay flexible and active well into the 80’s and 90’s. There are a host of advantages to physical therapy and any seniors can benefit from it. Physical therapy is excellent for improving strength, balance and fitness and avoiding those falls that could spell the start of troubles for the future.
Falling is a huge risk facing the elderly, leading to hip fractures which mean a general deterioration in health. Thousands of old people end up in hospital with hip fractures.

Everyone can benefit from physical therapy, but for the elderly it can be seen as a godsend, covering all the main muscle groups in the body and bringing flexibility to the body. Regular exercise is required to increase and maintain flexibility, and your age, gender and the types of activity that the physical therapists works out for you will all play a role in achieving and maintaining a full and normal range of motion for you.

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