PT’s attempt to tailor our treatment to individual patients to help them regain functional abilities whether that is teaching a patient with a spinal cord injury to walk or retraining specific muscles in order for a pitcher to throw a ball. We use techniques that include manual therapy, modalities such as electrical stimulation and ice, and therapeutic exercise to name a few. A physical therapist’s goal is to help a patient reach their maximum functional potential.Since physical therapists are required to treat all age ranges and all types of conditions, they go through extensive education. Physical therapists must first earn an undergraduate degree and take various science pre-requisite courses including anatomy, physiology, physics, chemistry, and biology. Physical therapists then undergo a rigorous application process to physical therapy school. Upon acceptance, physical therapy graduate students begin coursework covering a range of subjects from biomechanics to pathology and neuroscience to cardiopulmonary in order to obtain their clinical doctorate degree. After proving to be proficiently educated and trained to treat your pain and movement dysfunction by passing the state and national board licensure examinations, the Physical Therapists at ProActive PT and Sports Medicine initiate individualized treatment plans for every patient.
One common dysfunction PTs treat at ProActive is back pain. Depending on the cause of the back pain, your PT may treat your back pain with spinal manipulation, postural and patient education, and most importantly, spinal stabilization exercise. Be sure to read my article next week to find out why strengthening exercises are so important for resolving back pain.