9781422279915

Physical Therapists

Careers in Healthcare

Athletic Trainers Clinical & Medical Laboratory Scientists Dental Hygienists Dietitian Nutritionists EMTs & Paramedics Nurses Physical Therapists Physician Assistants Respiratory Therapists Speech Pathologists & Audiologists Ultrasound Technicians Occupational Therapists Orthotists & Prosthetists

Physical Therapists

Jennifer Hunsacker

Mason Crest Philadelphia

Mason Crest 450 Parkway Drive, Suite D

Broomall, PA 19008 www.masoncrest.com ©2018 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher.

Printed and bound in the United States of America. CPSIA Compliance Information: Batch #CHC2017. For further information, contact Mason Crest at 1-866-MCP-Book. First printing 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

on file at the Library of Congress ISBN: 978-1-4222-3803-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4222-7991-5 (ebook) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4222-3337-5 (hc) ISBN 978-1-4222-8622-7 (ebook)

1. Southwestern States—Juvenile literature. 2. Arizona—Juvenile literature. 3. California—Juvenile literature. 4. Nevada—Juvenile literature. I. Title. F785.7.L37 2015 979—dc23 2014050200

Careers in Healthcare series ISBN: 978-1-4222-3794-6

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Table of Contents 1: What Does a Physical Therapist Do? ......................7 2: A Look at the Opportunities ................................17 3: Education and Training ........................................27 4: The Evolution of Physical Therapy ......................37 5: Overview and Interview ......................................47 Series Glossary of Key Terms....................................58 Further Reading ........................................................60 Internet Resources ....................................................61 Index ..........................................................................62 Photo Credits/About the Author..............................64

Words to understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills.

Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowl- edge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments and much more!

Text-dependent questions: These questions send the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there.

Research projects: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connected to each chapter. Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. Series glossary of key terms: This back-of-the-book glossary contains terminology used throughout this series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field.

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Physical therapists help patients to get the most from their musculoskeletal system.

Words to Understand in This Chapter

cerebral palsy— a neuromuscular condition that affects a person’s movement and coordination, typically caused by a brain injury at birth. chronic— a persistent or recurring illness or condition that is difficult to over- come. direct-access model of practice— a model in which a patient calls on a physical therapist directly to perform services, rather than having to first receive a referral from a physician. mobility— the ability to move freely and without injury to carry out normal daily tasks. optimal— referring to the best possible outcome. range of motion— the full movement potential of a joint; that is, how far it can bend and extend.

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What Does a Physical Therapist Do? A fter receiving a total knee replacement, a woman’s orthopedic surgeon refers her to a physical therapist to help her regain her strength, movement, and agili- ty with her new joint. A man breaks his wrist snowboarding and has to have it surgically repaired with several pins and screws. He is told by his doctor that he will need to consult with a physical therapist once his sutures have healed to pre- vent scar tissue from forming in his newly repaired wrist. A young child with moderate cerebral palsy meets regularly with a physical therapist to combat the devastating effects of her condition. In each of these cases, people are seeking better movement, more strength, and greater mobility . To achieve

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this, they must see a health care professional who is an expert in all three areas—a physical therapist.

What Is a Physical Therapist? A physical therapist (PT) is a highly trained, licensed health care pro- fessional who helps ease patients’ pain and helps them gain or regain their mobility, balance, and coordination following an injury, surgery, or illness. For patients with chronic illnesses or conditions, a PT can help improve their quality of life by teaching them how to manage their long-term health and prevent further injury or loss of movement. Physical therapists are found in a variety of settings. Some work in hospitals to help patients immediately after an accident, injury, or sur- gery. Others provide treatment for people living in nursing homes so they can maintain as much independence as possible. PTs ply their trade in outpatient clinics and private practice, working with patients who have been referred there by orthopedic surgeons, pediatricians, and other physicians. They may even be found in university athletic

departments, in the military, and in the workplace, where they help stu- dents, soldiers, and employees keep from incurring injuries; they may also offer care in the event of an emergency. Regardless of the loca- tion and setting, every physical ther- apist is trained to perform tasks that fall into three categories—diagnos- ing a problem, restoring optimal function, and preventing future injury or disability.

Did You Know?

The success of a physical thera- pist’s work largely depends on the patient. If the patient is willing to do the work, physical therapy can be a highly effective way to reduce pain and help her regain motion and strength. If the patient doesn’t do the work, however, physical therapy cannot help her.

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Physical Therapists

A physical therapist helps a patient relax after a difficult session.

Diagnosing a Problem As few as ten years ago, in order to be seen by a physical ther- apist, a person would be referred by her physician for a partic- ular problem. The PT would then work with the patient on that problem under the direction of her physician. Because entry-level PTs are now required to earn a doctorate in physi- cal therapy, many states in the United States have moved toward a direct-access model of practice . This allows patients to see a physical therapist without first seeing another gatekeeper physician. It also gives PTs an opportunity to diagnose the

What Does a Physical Therapist Do?

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A physical therapist is not only concerned with strength, but also with range of motion.

cause of a patient’s lack of mobility. PTs take a detailed patient history, making note of any ill- nesses or injuries that could have led to the patient’s movement problems. They can perform diagnostic testing, including x- rays and ultrasound, to determine if there are underlying caus- es of a person’s pain or impairment. They can order additional imaging studies, such as CT scans and MRIs to get a better pic- ture of how a particular body part is working. Once they have gathered all this information, PTs can determine the best course of treatment for their patient and make a referral to a physician or surgeon, if necessary.

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Physical Therapists

A Real-Life Experience A physical therapist recounted one of his most rewarding experi- ences with a group of patients: “For nearly two decades, I was able to work part time with physically disabled kids in the local school districts. We always tried to have a big end-of-the-year activity where we tested the kids’ progress in a fun and creative way. One year we had our own Special Olympics with the kids. Some were only able to drop a Frisbee while others were able to throw it quite a dis- tance. We used the wedges and tubes we would normally use in therapy to create an obstacle course for the kids to move through. Even though some couldn’t do as much physically as others, it gave the kids and their nondisabled peers an opportu- nity to interact in a fun environment. We even made medals for all the kids. “Those years were sometimes tough, mainly because when you work on an athlete, you see tremendous progress in a very short period of time. When you work with physically disabled kids, though, it is often much harder to see progress. But when you do see it—and you do see it—you treasure those strides the kids make. Many of those kids are grown up now and I still see them occasionally around town. We always laugh together for a minute, and usually give each other a big hug. Those are the patients that have stayed in my heart.”

What Does a Physical Therapist Do?

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A physical therapist works with a patient on her core strength. PT’s often work with people to prevent injury.

Restoring Optimal Function Once a PT has diagnosed a patient’s problem, he must then decide how to help that patient regain as much mobility as pos- sible while managing her pain. A PT will measure her current range of motion , strength, balance, and agility as a baseline for comparison. He will then prescribe specific stretches, exercis- es, and icing and heating procedures to maximize the patient’s performance. A patient may be required to come to the PT’s

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Physical Therapists

office for a series of visits while performing additional exercises at home. Over time, the PT will then reevaluate the patient’s range of motion, strength, bal- ance, and agility and decide if the patient needs continued treatment or can be discharged with further instructions. Every patient has individual needs that a PT must consider

Educational Video

For a video that shows what a pedi- atric physical therapist does, scan here:

when creating a treatment plan. A patient with a total knee replacement will need different exercises than someone who has had a stroke. Even two patients with the same condition will make different progress at different times, depending on how well they comply with a PT’s instructions and how well their body responds to treatment. All these factors will play a role in the types of treatment a PT prescribes and how long a patient is under the care of a physical therapist. Preventing Future Injury or Disability Helping a patient reduce pain and regain his movement and ability after an injury or surgery is only part of a PT’s job. In fact, most therapists will tell you that their goal is to never see their patients in their clinic or office once they are discharged. As a result, PTs work with patients, employers, athletic coach- es, and physicians to create lifelong fitness plans to prevent future injury or disability. If a person works in a physically demanding job, a PT may advise the person on ways to reduce

What Does a Physical Therapist Do? 13

A physical therapist discusses a patient’s diagnosis and course of treatment.

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Physical Therapists