Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose and treat people of all ages who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their ability to move and perform activities of daily life. PTs also help prevent conditions that limit a person's ability to move by developing fitness and wellness programs that achieve healthy and active lifestyles. Physical therapists provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health.

Care provided by a physical therapist will begin with an examination of the patient’s medical history, followed by evaluation of the patient’s strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, movement and mobility. The physical therapist designs an individualized, comprehensive plan of care to address the noted impairments, enabling patients to perform their prior activities of daily living.

Interventions used by physical therapists may include:

• Manual Therapy - joint and soft tissue mobilization, and manual stretching
  
• Postural Analysis - to improve posture with sitting, standing and daily activities
  
• Gait Analysis and Training - for walking and running, and use of assistive, adaptive, or orthotic devices and equipment
  
• Modalities - heat and cold therapy, electrical stimulation, vasopneumatic compression, infrared light and ultrasound
  
• Therapeutic Exercise - to improve range of motion, flexibility, strength and muscle endurance
  
• Functional Training - to improve function with home and work-related activities such as lifting, reaching, and stair-climbing
  
• Sport-Specific Training - for strength, agility, and sport-specific skills
  
• Education- on posture, body mechanics, activity modification, and energy conservation skills
  
• Home exercise program instruction

Videos

Move Forward: Physical Therapy Brings Motion to Life (APTA)

You Can Be Me: A Career in Physical Therapy (APTA)

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