Vision Statement for the Physical Therapy Profession: "Transforming society by optimizing movement
to improve the human experience."
Role of a Physical Therapist:
Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals
who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very
oldest, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit
their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives.
PTs examine each individual and develop a plan using
treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore
function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to
prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and
wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.
Physical therapists provide care for people in a variety of
settings, including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home
health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings, and
nursing homes. State licensure is required in each state in which a physical
therapist practices.
The Physical Therapy Profession:
Physical therapy is a dynamic profession with an established
theoretical and scientific base and widespread clinical applications in the
restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function. For more
than 750,000 people every day in the United States, physical therapists:
Diagnose and manage movement dysfunction and enhance
physical and functional abilities.
Restore, maintain, and promote not only optimal physical
function but optimal wellness and fitness and optimal quality of life as it relates
to movement and health.
Prevent the onset, symptoms, and progression of impairments,
functional limitations, and disabilities that may result from diseases,
disorders, conditions, or injuries.
The terms "physical therapy" and
"physiotherapy," and the terms "physical therapist" and
"physiotherapist," are synonymous.
As essential participants in the health care delivery
system, physical therapists assume leadership roles in rehabilitation; in
prevention, health maintenance, and programs that promote health, wellness, and
fitness; and in professional and community organizations. Physical therapists
also play important roles both in developing standards for physical therapist
practice and in developing health care policy to ensure availability, accessibility,
and optimal delivery of health care services. Physical therapy is covered by
federal, state, and private insurance plans. Physical therapists' services have
a positive impact on health-related quality of life.
As clinicians, physical therapists engage in an examination
process that includes:
taking the patient/client history,conducting a systems review, and
performing tests and measures to identify potential and
existing problems.
To establish diagnoses, prognoses, and plans of care,
physical therapists perform evaluations, synthesizing the examination data and
determining whether the problems to be addressed are within the scope of
physical therapist practice.
Based on their judgments about diagnoses and
prognoses and based on patient/client goals, physical therapists:
provide interventions (the interactions and procedures used
in managing and instructing patients/clients),conduct re-examinations, modify interventions as necessary
to achieve anticipated goals and expected outcomes, and develop and implement
discharge plans.
Physical therapy can be provided only by qualified physical
therapists (PTs) or by physical therapist assistants (PTAs) working under the
supervision of a physical therapist.
Issued
in Public Interest by:
Physiotherapy
Jobs Portal
International and National Physiotherapy Jobs. Physiotherapy
Jobs Portal is a
registered recruitment service for Indian Physiotherapists.
(Service Tax Code & Registration number: DSFPS4451BSD001)
www.physiotherapyjobs.co.in
