Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Physical therapy is mainly concerned with treating musculoskeletal disorders and how those disorders interact with physical movement. The approach involves evaluating, diagnosing, and treating disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The main goal of physical therapy is to restore the maximum functional independence for each patient. A variety of techniques are utilized to achieve this goal including, but not limited to exercise, heat, cold, electricity, and massage therapy.

Timeframe

A single session for physical therapy can take anywhere from 15 – 60 minutes, depending on the techniques utilized. The fruequency of sessions will depend on the conditions being treated and the patient’s response to therapy…generally one to three times per week. The overall course of treatment widely varies as well and can take anywhere from weeks to months to complete, depending on the severity of the conditions and the positive response to the techniques.

Goals

Setting goals is the best way to achieve a successful rehabilitation outcome. When starting a treatment regimen, the desired outcome should be clearly delineated from the start. The goals should be not only important, but also attainable. Once these are established, the therapist can easily devise a treatment plan to help achieve your desired goals.

Conditions

There are many conditions for which physical therapy is one of the key forms of treatment. Due to this there are several specialty areas in the field of physical therapy. Although this is well known throughout the profession, it is often overlooked by the general public.

Rehabilitation

There are many components that comprise a well rounded comprehensive rehabilitation program. From initial management to final recovery, a treatment program must be flexible to adjust to the needs of each individual patient. A well rounded rehabilitation program will consist of injury prevention, post-injury care and treatment, stretching exercises, strengthening exercises, and post-operative recovery utilizing a variety of specialized tools and equipment.

If you are curious to see how the use of acupuncture can benefit you, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Leonard at Florida Wellness & Rehab.