Physical therapy can fit into two general categories. The first type is what you may think of when you think of physical therapy and that has to do with recovery from an injury or surgery. It is a rehabilitative form of therapy to get your body functioning after an accident or surgery that has done damage to muscles or joints. The other main area of focus for physical therapy has to do with maintaining function as we get older or due to work-related injury. Function can deteriorate over time as the body starts to age or wear out. We lose strength and endurance as we age or as we overuse parts of our body. Physical therapy can focus on specific areas of the body to improve overall coordination and movement.