Physical therapists typically do the following:

• Diagnose patients’ dysfunctional movements by watching them stand or walk and by listening to their concerns, among other methods
• Set up a plan for their patients, outlining the patient’s goals and the planned treatments
• Use exercises, stretching maneuvers, hands-on therapy, and equipment to ease patients’ pain and to help them increase their ability to move
• Evaluate a patient’s progress, modifying a treatment plan and trying new treatments as needed
• Educate patients and their families about what to expect during recovery from injury and illness and how best to cope with what happens

Physical therapists provide care to people of all ages who have functional problems resulting from back and neck injuries; sprains, strains, and fractures; arthritis; amputations; stroke; birth conditions, such as cerebral palsy; injuries related to work and sports; and other conditions. They are trained to use a variety of different techniques—sometimes called modalities—to care for their patients. These techniques include applying heat and cold, hands-on stimulation or massage, and using assistive and adaptive devices and equipment.

The work of physical therapists varies with the type of patients they serve. For example, a patient suffering from loss of mobility due to Parkinson’s disease needs different care than an athlete recovering from an injury. Some physical therapists specialize in one type of care, such as pediatrics (treating children) or sports physical therapy.

They work as part of a healthcare team, overseeing the work of physical therapist assistants and aides and consulting with physicians and surgeons and other specialists. They also work at preventing loss of mobility by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs to encourage healthier and more active lifestyles.

The field of physical therapy has sub-specialties in five areas. Physical therapists can specialize as:

Orthopedic Physical Therapists
Orthopedic physical therapists focus on restoring function to the musculoskeletal system, and many sports injuries fall into this category. Joints, tendons, ligaments, and bones are treated with stretching, strength training, endurance exercises, hot and cold packs, ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, and joint mobilization.

Conditions that can be treated by orthopedic physical therapists may include: tendonitis, arthritis, ligament tears, sprains, joint stiffness, joint pain, strains, muscle tears, joint inflammation, muscle inflammation, tendon inflammation, post-fracture injury, rotator cuff repair, ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) reconstruction, and post-arthroscopic and total joint replacement surgeries.

Geriatric Physical Therapists
Geriatric physical therapists focus on older adults and help them to reduce pain, improve their balance, increase their fitness level and strength, restore mobility, build their confidence, and remain active. They treat them for conditions such as arthritis, cancer, osteoporosis, incontinence, Alzheimer’s disease, hip and joint replacement, and balance disorders.

Geriatric physical therapists seek to help their older clients restore their mobility as much as possible while still being aware of and accommodating any physical limitations. This type of therapy helps older adults to remain strong, independent and productive. Physical therapy can also help older adults to avoid falls, as falling is one of the biggest risks older adults face, often leading to things such as hip fractures/replacements which can sometimes lead to a downward health spiral.

Neurological Physical Therapists
Neurological physical therapists focus on helping and treating people that have neurological conditions and impairments such as: Alzheimer’s disease, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, brain injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, and stroke.

The nervous system is an intricate and complex system that controls all the workings of the body. If something goes wrong with a part of this nervous system, an individual can experience trouble moving, breathing, speaking, swallowing, or learning, and can also experience issues with their memory and senses.

Physical therapy helps patients who have had or who presently have neurological diseases or injuries to achieve function for living as independently as possible. Every patient’s treatment approach is individually tailored by the neurological physical therapist and addresses specific problem areas. Without physical therapy, these patients may not be able to perform certain activities, lose many of their functions, and eventually lose their independence due to decreased activity. This can then lead to other health issues, such as diabetes, heart problems, or lung problems.

Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapists
Cardiopulmonary physical therapists focus on helping individuals who suffer from cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions such as heart attacks, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis. The goal is to improve overall health, increase endurance, improve functional independence, and reduce the risk of future cardiovascular episodes.

Cardiovascular rehabilitation deals with a patient’s mental and emotional well-being after a traumatic cardiac event. It is important to mobilize patients as soon as they are clinically stable, often within 24-48 hours of the episode. Cardiac rehabilitation can be separated into several phases or steps. For example, a cardiopulmonary physical therapist can help a patient progress through the following steps: sitting on the edge of the bed; light activity (such as sitting, standing, or walking) in the room; walking up and down the hospital hallways; measuring the amount of effort it takes to do an activity using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale (should be 13 or less); keeping the heart rate below 120 beats per minute; helping the patient exercise two to four times per day.

Pulmonary rehabilitation helps patients with a pulmonary disease, most commonly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), to increase awareness of their lungs in regards to performing activity and to help improve overall pulmonary function. Pulmonary rehabilitation may include: breathing strategies; energy-conservation techniques; relaxation techniques; nutritional counseling; psychological counseling; exercise training; and group support. Patients often report less shortness of breath and more energy after working with a pulmonary therapist.

Pediatric Physical Therapists
Pediatric physical therapists treat musculoskeletal problems and improve the mobility of infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents facing numerous health conditions. This field of therapy was started during the polio epidemic in the 1920s and has since been used to treat genetic disorders, injuries, birth defects, muscle diseases, developmental delays, orthopedic disabilities, and limb deficiencies.

Pediatric physical therapists use a variety of methods and treatments for children, such as specialized equipment, functional training and exercise, diet changes, and medication – all designed to help treat conditions that hinder mobility and also help alleviate pain. For treatment after an injury or post surgery, a pediatric physical therapist will look at the specific areas of the body that are involved and determine what type of therapy and treatment will be needed for a successful rehabilitation process.

A pediatric physical therapist addresses and treats the same underlying issues as they would do if working with an adult, the only difference being in the context of a child’s mobility and movements. For babies, the focus is on the development of gross motor skills, which can include learning how to sit up, roll over, crawl, stand, and walk. For young children, improving movement issues may be the focus, such as balance or coordination deficits. These issues can be treated by developing better mobility (helping them play, jump, and run) and by increasing core strength.