Often we are asked about the various terms and abbreviations that are common in physical therapy. Here are a list of the common terms and abbreviations:
Physical therapist working with a patient
The technical answer is thatPhysical Therapy is a medical practice that helps people improve their physical function. PT helps people of all shapes, sizes, and ages develop, maintain, and restore maximum body function and movement patterns in a non-invasive form.
Physical therapy professionals can help individuals recover from an injury, relieve pain from an injury, or prevent future damage from happening. Physical therapy can be prescribed to all ages, from newborns to the golden years. Physical therapy is usually prescribed by a doctor, usually after a medical exam.
The first physical therapy visit is the initial evaluation. This consists of medical history and a physical examination. After that, your physical therapist will prescribe a course of treatment. Treatments usually consist of exercises that pertain to:
Treatments can generally last about an hour. It is common to schedule sessions two or three times a week to about four to six weeks. The frequency can vary depending on the issue.
The quick answer is that the goal in physical therapy is NOT to hurt you, but to get you back on your feet even though some activity may be difficult or even some pain may be present during the activity. Treatment can be uncomfortable at times for some conditions but is should never be excruciating.
A physical therapist working on a patient's knee
Most people think that the only reason you would need physical therapy would be because either you have suffered from an injury or just had major surgery. But physical therapy is needed when you feel that you:
Physical therapy may be necessary for common acute or chronic issues that include normal wear and tear of the body. Some signs that you might need physical therapy are:
The quick answer is that it depends on the area. In most states, you can go directly to a physical therapist for an evaluation. But, for insurance companies to cover the cost, most of the time a doctor must refer you for PT.
This is usually not an issue since most doctors and insurance companies realize that physical therapy is the most economical and effective way to treat many physical issues and limitations.
It is important to start physical therapy quickly after most injuries. To Learn how JOI gets patients in to therapy quickly, watch this VIDEO on The JOI Rehab Fast Track Spine Program.
Now that you are attending or planning on attending physical therapy, there are some terms that you may need to know.
Related Articles:
Image of a PT gym
JOI Physicians continue to offer online new patient appointments. This is another option to make it more convenient to make new patient appointments with less phone hold times. Follow the link below to select your JOI MD and schedule online.
New to JOI, you can now schedule your follow up appointments and cancel appointments on the JOI Portal.
To make appointments with JOI Rehab, please call 904-858-7045.
