Which Type of PT Do You Need?
Do You Know Which Type of Physical Therapist You Need?
If you have been considering physical therapy, you may be wondering if there is a specific kind of physical therapist you should be calling. Although all physical therapists go through a general curriculum that introduces them to many different areas of PT practice, many go on to specialize in one or two areas. Through clinical affiliations during their graduate program, continuing education programs, specialty board certifications and fellowships, physical therapists hone their skills in various areas of practice. While all physical therapists are considered movement experts who improve quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education, knowing what kind of PT you need is important to ensure you get the best care.
Let’s take a look at some of the different specialty areas of physical therapy. We will discuss the kinds of conditions treated by therapists that practice in each area and what kind of education and advanced training these PTs might undergo.
Orthopedic Physical Therapy
Orthopedic physical therapists specialize in the evaluation and treatment of conditions and injuries that impact the musculoskeletal system. This includes injuries or conditions affecting the bones, joints, tendons, muscles, and ligaments. Most orthopedic physical therapists can treat any area of the musculoskeletal system but some therapists choose to specialize further in one or a few areas of the body or in certain conditions. For example, a therapist may dedicate their practice to treating spines, to treating hypermobility disorders, to treating wrists and hands, or chronic pain, etc.
Common conditions treated by orthopedic physical therapists include arthritis, sprains, strains, bone fractures, tendonitis, and post-surgical conditions. If you are having pain with activity in your muscles or joints, an orthopedic physical therapist can often help you pinpoint contributing factors and create a plan to address them.
Some orthopedic therapists will go on to get a board certification in orthopedic physical therapy or complete a fellowship in spine care or manual therapy which indicates a higher level of training and expertise in this area.
Sports Physical Therapy
Sports physical therapists have many of the same skills as an orthopedic physical therapist but have chosen to further specialize in working with an athlete population. They are more knowledgeable about common sports injuries as well as the physical demands that different sports place on the body. They also have an in-depth understanding of the physiological, psychological and performance aspects of athletics.
A sports physical therapist may seek out a board certification to become a certified Sports Clinical Specialist or certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. They may also seek out post-graduate Fellowship programs in Division 1 athletics, the upper extremity athlete, performing arts, manual therapy, or sports rehab.
Neurologic Physical Therapy
Neurologic physical therapy addresses injury, disease, or disorder of the neurologic, neuromuscular, and vestibular systems. Injuries or disorders affecting the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, cerebral palsy, peripheral neuropathy, and dizziness are conditions best addressed by a neurologic physical therapist. Individuals experiencing losses of balance or impairments in their functional mobility are often treated by neurologic physical therapists also.
PTs that practice neurologic physical therapy have typically undergone extensive training through residencies, board certification, or continuing education to develop an in-depth understanding of the anatomy and physiology of these systems and how to evaluate and treat these complex conditions based on the best available research.
Vestibular Physical Therapy
Vestibular physical therapy often overlaps with orthopedic and neurologic physical therapy. Vestibular physical therapy focuses on the evaluation and treatment of conditions affecting the vestibular system. The vestibular system is a sensory system in our body responsible for providing the brain with information about motion, spatial orientation, and head position. It also communicates with the parts of our brain and spinal cord that control motor functions to catch and maintain our balance, stabilize our head and bodies during movement, and maintain our posture. The main components of the vestibular system are located in the inner ear and connect with tracts throughout our nervous system.
You may want to consider seeing a vestibular physical therapist if you are experience dizziness with changes in position or with movement, are experiencing Post Concussion Syndrome, falls or losses of balance, or have been diagnosed with a condition such as BPPV, Meneire’s Disease, Vestibular Neuritis or Labyrinthitis.
Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy
With specialized education and training in the cardiopulmonary system and in depth understanding of the principles of exercise, cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapists are a vital part of a care team for someone looking to strengthen their heart and their lungs so they can get back to their everyday activities. All physical therapists are taught these basic principles during their education, however, some will take continuing education to deepen their knowledge or go on to specialize further with a board certification in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy.
These physical therapists are often found in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs to help those with cardiac and pulmonary conditions recover from heart attacks, lung or heart transplants, heart disease, COPD, cystic fibrosis, and more.
Oncology Physical Therapy
In the world of cancer treatment, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplants, and hormone therapies are targeted to destroy cancer cells, but in the process of restoring health these treatments can cause mild to severe physical impairments. The development of specialty oncologic physical therapy has meant, however, that these physical impairments can be managed and addressed during and after cancer treatment.
Some of the oncologic conditions addressed by oncology physical therapy are as follows:
Pain
Radiation fibrosis
Muscle weakness, atrophy, or loss of stamina
Lymphedema
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
Cancer-related fatigue
Balance impairments
Many physical therapists that work in this area will undergo board certification in oncologic physical therapy to gain an expertise in the care of cancer survivors.
Hand Therapy
Physical therapists or occupational therapists can become Certified Hand Therapists (CHT). This certification requires at least three years and 4,000 hours of experience treating conditions of the hand and upper extremity. If you are looking for a therapist to address an acquired injury, a congenital or acquired deformity or disease of the hand or upper extremity, or recently underwent surgery in the hand or upper extremity, a CHT is an excellent choice to facilitate your recovery.
MORE KNOWLEDGE EQUALS BETTER CHOICES
Understanding what types of physical therapy exist can help make you a better self-advocate and consumer of healthcare. With a better understanding of the specialty areas of physical therapy, you can begin to look for a therapist in your area that provides this care. At Evolve Physical Therapy in Brooklyn, we offer many of these services and would love to help connect you with one of our skilled providers so that you can take the first step in recovery and rehabilitation of your specific needs.
About EvolveNY-
Brooklyn's Premier Holistic Physical Therapy Clinics- There’s physical therapy, there’s training, and then there’s EVOLVE. We use the science of biomechanics merged with fitness to help our patients get better and stay better!
First we evaluate, then we heal, then we strengthen our clients so they can reach their goals, feel better, and live happier lives. We do so by utilizing a range of core techniques and specialized treatments to reduce pain, improve mobility, enhance physical strength and deal with the underlying issues, not just the pain itself.
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