What is Physical Therapy?

What is Physical Therapy? Life is not a spectator sport, it’s meant to be lived. If pain, injury, or limited movement is keeping you from living life to its fullest, physical therapy can help.

No matter what area of the body is causing you problems – neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, hip and ankle, just to name a few – physical therapists have a long and established history of helping individuals improve their quality of life.

What is physical therapy? It is a well-known and respected profession specializing in the evaluation and treatment of a wide range of conditions, including orthopedic and soft tissue injuries, sports injuries, fractures and dislocations. Therapists work to make patients stronger, to help them move freely again without pain and discomfort and feel ready to return to and continue their activities of daily living. Physical Therapists strive to keep their patients healthy and safe. They can even help prevent injuries altogether.

Because physical therapists receive specialized education in a variety of sciences – physics, human anatomy, kinesiology (human movement), to name a few – they understand how the body works and how to get you moving again.

The field requires good communication and problem-solving skills, and the ability to perform rigorous physical activity. The degree required to become a practicing physical therapist in the U.S. today is the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). All states and territories in the United States also require a state medical license to practice physical therapy.

Your doctor may suggest physical therapy for injuries such as:

  • Muscles spasms
  • Tendon or ligament injuries- ACL injury, meniscus tears, and rotator cuff tendonitis
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Fractures and dislocations
  • Overuse injuries
  • Post-surgery recovery

What is Physical Therapy? For more information on how it can work for you give us a call at 703-525-5542

physical therapy Arlington Virginia