 Physical Therapy is scientific physical procedures used in the
treatment of patients with a disability, disease, or injury to achieve
and maintain functional rehabilitation and to prevent malfunction or
deformity.
Treatments are designed to minimize residual physical
disability, to hasten convalescence, and to contribute to the patient's
comfort and well-being.
Physical therapy is prescribed for patients with varied
orthopedic, neurological, vascular, and respiratory conditions, which
may be the result of congenital malfunction, disability acquired through
disease or trauma, or inherited dysfunction.
One of the most important tasks of the physical therapist is
therapeutic exercise in various forms. It is used to increase strength
and endurance, to improve coordination, to improve functional movement
for activities of daily living, and to increase and maintain range of
motion. Gait training is practiced with the assistance of canes,
crutches, walkers, braces, and artificial limbs.
Physical therapy also
uses massage, bandaging, strapping, and application and removal of
splints and casts.
Physical therapists instruct patients and their
relatives in techniques of exercise and the use of prosthetic devices,
such as artificial limbs and orthotic devices.
Definition
from:
"Physical Therapy." Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com ©1997-2001
Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
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