7 Things You May Not Know About Physical Therapy

From injuries, to surgery recovery, to common ailments, physical therapists can make a huge difference in a person’s quality of life.

What is a Physical Therapist? 

If you’ve had an injury or have just undergone surgery, your doctor will probably refer you to a physical therapy practice — to help you through the recovery process and get you back to feeling good again. 

Physical therapists are amongst the highest educated movement specialists in medicine — with many holding doctorate degrees. Physical therapists work to improve quality of life through prescribed exercises, hands-on care, and one-on-one education.

At Physio Physical Therapy, we begin with a physical exam to understand your issue and determine how we can best help. Our physical therapists then use a combination of exercises, stretching, equipment, and hands-on techniques to help movement and increase range of motion. 

7 Surprising Facts About Physical Therapy 

If you’ve never had physical therapy or personally know a physical therapist, you may be surprised by these seven facts.

1.Physical Therapy Got its Start During World War I

Physical therapy was officially recognized as a profession during WWI. Workers in the profession were called reconstruction aides and provided therapy to injured soldiers to help them regain strength and return back to the battlefield.

2.There are Various Types of Physical Therapy

There isn’t just one focus area when it comes to physical therapy. Some of the specialty areas are orthopedic, post-operative care, cardiovascular, acute care, and even neurologic rehabilitation. 

At Physio, we focus on the outpatient side, with our emphasis being on orthopedic and post-operative care. 

3. An At-Home Exercise Routine is Just as Important as a PT Session

When you have a physical therapy appointment, you’ll work one-on-one with your therapist to work on getting stronger and back to your healthy self. But physical therapists also create additional home programs, customized to your specific needs. 

You may think your appointment is enough, but these at-home exercises are vital for the rehabilitation process. 

At Physio, we always say that you’ll spend one percent of your week with us, so what you do with the other 99 percent makes a big difference. Your body needs repetition in order to get stronger, so your in-person exercises, while important, aren’t enough just on their own.  

4. Physical Therapists Have Advanced Degrees

Physical therapists are highly educated and trained to make sure you get the best possible treatment. 

Up until the 1990s, physical therapists used to be able to practice with just a bachelor’s degree. However, over the last few decades, the practice and knowledge level have both evolved. Now, most graduate programs offer a three year Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree. Aspiring therapists must also pass a medical board exam to receive a license to treat patients.  

5. Physical Therapists Are Not Personal Trainers

Physical therapists are knowledgeable, licenced professionals with years of training and experience. They will work with you to keep you motivated, encourage you, push you to get better, and challenge you. And while they work with equipment and movement-based practices, their level of healthcare education and techniques make them quite different from personal trainers. 

6. Physical Therapists Work in Various Locations

Physical therapists work in many different places. They can help patients in hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, schools, sports and fitness centers, nursing homes, and even in a private home. 

7. Physical Therapy Can Treat Common Ailments

When we think of physical therapy, we often associate it with injury or surgery, but physical therapists can treat much more than that. Jaw pain, vertigo, headaches, and concussions are all ailments that can be treated by physical therapists. 

Physio Physical Therapy in Asheville

Ready to see what physical therapy can do for you? At Physio, physical therapy is more than just exercises. Our physical therapists work with you to help get you out of pain and back to living an active lifestyle. Make an appointment today with one of our physical therapy and wellness experts. We’d love to hear from you!