Personal Trainer Certification

Physical therapy is one of the most rapidly expanding fields in healthcare today. It should come as no surprise then that it is a field rife with new and exciting technological advancements that enable patients to make physical gains that were inconceivable just decades ago. If the past is any indication of the future, we can expect to see even more innovation for the field of physical therapy in the years to come.

Computerized Exercise Equipment

One of the most widespread advancements in physical therapy technology today is the use of computerized exercise equipment that can recognize a patient, recall his or her treatment plan, and evaluate his or progress. Though these machines cannot take the place of a licensed physical therapist, they can certainly make his job a lot easier and help patients take more active and independent roles in the progression of their rehabilitation plan.  For example, a patient who is working on leg-strengthening may step on to a treadmill and type in a password; immediately, the treadmill retrieves the patient’s individual information including the specific exercise regimen prescribed for the day.  The patient can then quickly begin his therapy session, completing the time and distance requirements at the speed and intensity recommended by the therapist.

Motion Analysis and Capture

A technology with far-reaching implications, motion analysis and capture, sometimes referred to as mocap, is frequently used by the film industry to create 3-D movie characters. The medical industry has found ways to put this relatively new technology to even better uses, including helping physical therapists evaluate a patient’s movements and balance. Motion analysis and capture technology is often used in stroke rehabilitation to establish a starting point for the patient, design a rehabilitation program, and evaluate his or her progress. Through the use of special sensors or platforms, the therapist can track a patient’s gait, movement, and balance, transfer them to image or video files, and then watch and analyze them as many times as necessary to make a proper determination of the patient’s current functionality and design an individualized treatment plan for the patient’s recovery.

Robotic Therapy

A new and growing branch of physical therapy, robotic therapy offers rehab patients capabilities once thought to be only possible in movies. Although prosthetics have been around for decades and have provided amazing benefits to individuals who have lost an arm or a leg, robotic prosthetics offer much more than just a helping hand. The newest concepts in this field can actually deliver sensory input to the patient’s brain just as a real arm or leg would do. And robotic therapy is not just for prosthetics either. New robotics technology for stroke victims helps them regain mobility in their arms through an interactive video-game-like device which prompts the patient to move their hand in a certain direction and even provides them with sensory prompts as needed. Research and experimentation is ongoing to determine the implications robotics therapy can have for other areas of physical therapy as well.

Anti-Gravity Treadmills

Not surprisingly, this gravity-defying contraption was first conceptualized by NASA and was intended to enable astronauts to exercise in space. What NASA didn’t realize at the time was that this new technology would have important implications for the field of physical therapy as well. The concept is actually very simple; through an air-compressed device at the base of the treadmill, the patient is allowed to relieve a significant percentage of his body weight, allowing exercises such as walking and jogging to be much less strenuous, an important consideration for someone learning how to walk again after a surgery or injury. It also helps patients resume their normal gait much quicker than they would be able to otherwise, lessening the chance that they will develop a limp (something that can be very hard to reverse). Although these treadmills are not yet widely available, they are projected to become more commonplace in the years to come.

The newest technological advancements available to physical therapists and their patients are truly changing the face of physical therapy. Medical universities and corporations continue to conduct research and develop concepts that will continue to test the limits of what physical therapy can offer patients in terms of pain relief, independence, and increased mobility.

References

Anti-Gravity Treadmill Helps Injured get Moving Again. Denverpost.com. Retrieved from http://www.denverpost.com/rss/ci_17107585?source=rss.
Physical therapy: Technology on PT duty. DOTmed.com. Retrieved from http://www.dotmed.com/news/story/12652/.
Robotic Therapy Helps Stroke Patients Regain Function. MIT News. Retrieved from http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/stroke-therapy-0419.html.
Stroke Therapy: New Trends, Technology, and Tactics. Physical Therapy Products. Retrieved from http://www.ptproductsonline.com/issues/articles/2009-01_06.asp

Physical therapy is not just for injuries anymore. One of the reasons that physical therapy, sometimes referred to as PT, is such a rapidly growing field is the fact that it is so versatile. Physical therapy can be beneficial to patients of all ages, those with a range of medical conditions from arthritis to cancer, as well as those recovering from surgeries, accidents, or sports injuries. Despite the specific reason for physical therapy, generally speaking, the overall goal remains the same: to help the patient recover any lost abilities, become more mobile and independent, and eliminate or minimize pain.

Orthopedic Physical Therapy

Perhaps the most well-known division of physical therapy, orthopedic physical therapy is an area of PT devoted to treating conditions related to the muscular skeletal system including muscles, bones, and joints. This type of treatment is geared toward any individual suffering from conditions such as whiplash, arthritis, herniated discs, neck or back pain as well as sports, work, or post-surgery conditions. Orthopedic physical therapists use a variety of strategies, namely manual physical therapy—a technique in which the therapist uses his own hands to move the affected areas in ways that will flex the muscles and joints to lessen pain and improve function. In addition to traditional physical therapy methods, alternative techniques such as electrical stimulation are sometimes used in orthopedic physical therapy.

Pediatric Physical Therapy

Pediatric physical therapy refers to physical therapy administered to babies, preschoolers, children, and adolescents. These youngsters may require physical therapy for a variety of reasons including congenital disorders or conditions, medical ailments acquired during the early years, or injuries sustained during an accident. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, the goal of pediatric physical therapy is to help the child reach his physical potential in terms of mobility and self-sufficiency. Young patients are typically referred to pediatric physical therapy specialists who are trained in the specific treatment techniques proven to be most beneficial to children and young adults. Pediatric physical therapists often work closely with the patient’s family and school to develop a treatment plan that will help the child perform at an optimal level both at home and in the classroom. Depending on the type and severity of the child’s condition, he or she may require physical therapy for a short period of time, or the care may be ongoing.

Geriatric Physical Therapy

Geriatric physical therapy refers to the physical treatment of elderly patients. Although geriatric physical therapy often helps older patients battle diseases and medical conditions common in this age-group such as bladder issues, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and arthritis among many others, it also helps them cope with the natural aging process. The goal of geriatric physical therapy is to help patients improve and maintain their mobility, thereby enabling them to maintain some degree of independence and autonomy as they age. Depending on the particular condition being treated, the patient may be referred to a specialist who is more knowledgeable and experienced in the treatment of the specific disease or disorder.

Neurological Physical Therapy

Neurological therapy is a branch of physical therapy involving the treatment of individuals affected by neurological disorders such as ALS or Alzheimer’s disease, or those who have experienced a stroke or serious head or back injury affecting the brain or spinal cord. Typically, neurological patients suffer some degree of mobility impairment including a loss of balance and agility. The treatment techniques used in this area of physical therapy are intended to help patients improve their movement ability by correcting or improving physical deficits related to their conditions.

Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation

A relatively small field of physical therapy, cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation focuses on treating patients with medical conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, cardio-pulmonary disease, and those recovering from cardio-pulmonary surgery. This type of physical therapy uses alternative treatments to help these patients recover some degree of respiratory or cardiovascular function. Methods of cardio-pulmonary physical therapy may include certain breathing techniques and physical exercises designed to increase air-flow, strength, and stamina. While these strategies may not be able to cure the patient’s disorder, they can certainly help the patient improve function and enjoy a higher quality of life.

Once thought to be reserved for patients suffering from conditions or injuries directly affecting the muscles, bones, and joints, physical therapy has broadened its scope to include the treatment of just about any disorder or ailment that affects mobility, either directly or indirectly. Today, licensed physical therapists specialize in a certain field to learn the most effective techniques to treat specific conditions. These experts practice PT in a variety of different settings including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, private practices, and even in-home care settings. Thanks to the wide-spread availability of specialized treatment options, physical therapy patients now have access to high-quality, individualized care designed to help them meet their personal treatment goals.

References

American Association of Physical Therapy. http://www.apta.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home