Many people, when they think of physical therapy, think of massage and exercise. Although these are definite components, physical therapy is much broader.
Physical therapists have a medical background.
A physical therapist is a licensed professional who is an expert in musculoskeletal dysfunctions. Therapists are trained to analyze movement and identify abnormal mechanics. From this assessment, a physical therapist will treat a dysfunction with manual skills that will accelerate the recovery process. To enhance this treatment, the therapist will design a specific exercise program that the patient may execute independently. Many therapists have a specialty such as orthopedics, neurology, amputations, cardiopulmonary, geriatrics or pediatrics.