Most people associate physical therapy with just exercise and massage, but the practice has broader aspects where its main goal is to rehabilitate a person back to their optimum health prior to their injury. Physical therapists are knowledgeable in some aspects of medicine such as the study of a disease or injury, its causes and the possible treatment approach for it. Therapists are trained in diagnosing and treating these injuries through proper assessment and through the application of manual skills in order to help get their patients back in tiptop shape.

The most common conditions treated in therapy centers are those with cardiovascular and pulmonary problems, neurological, and pediatric, as well as orthopedic, and geriatric cases. There are centers that specialize only in one or two of these conditions but a majority of the clinics handles all of these conditions. It would help to know about your condition so that it would be easier to find the right center that will cater to your needs.

Here is a description of each area that is usually treated by physical therapists.

Orthopedic conditions – this includes dysfunctions in the muscle and bones. Patients may have undergone surgery due to an accident or an illness that affects the muscular and skeletal system. Treatment of these conditions will include exercise and training to help improve their condition. Modalities are applied to help relieve pain and swelling so that it will not limit the patient's capacity for recovery.

Geriatric conditions – this focuses on those who have conditions that arise due to old age. Conditions such as arthritis, incontinence, osteoporosis, and even the complications that go with cancer are addressed. Specific techniques are applied to address the issues that go with old age, while always keeping in mind to provide the patient comfort and reassurance at all times to make the adjustments easy. Usually majority of the patients are in a reconditioned state due to lack of activity, so the therapist will try to improve their level of fitness so that they will still be able to function normally in society.

Neurological conditions – these include patients who suffered from stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and spinal cord injuries. Any condition that involves the nervous system falls under neurological conditions. Treatment of these conditions entails a lot of hard work and patience for the therapist, the patient, and the family. It may involve various aspects that have to be addressed according to the condition so that the patient will be able to function normally, independently, and get back to their usual daily activities.

Pediatric conditions - deal with children, adolescents, and infants with conditions that may have developed while they were still in their mother's womb, during delivery, or while they were growing up. Early detection of developmental delays, congenital and non-congenital disorders will greatly affect the outcome of the therapy. Conditions that are usually found in pediatric patients are developmental delays, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida. If these conditions are not detected, the child may suffer with the disorder and once they reach adulthood, it will be harder to be treated and the outcome may not be too favorable.

Cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions – these conditions involve the heart and the lungs. Conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Myocardial Infarctions, heart attacks, and emphysema are several conditions that are treated by physical therapists. Their main goal for such patients is to develop their endurance and stamina for them to be independent and functional even after suffering from their conditions.

There are also therapy centers that provide fitness and health, and conditioning treatments for those who want to remain fit and are doing so as a preventive measure. Here are some Physical Therapy centers that may address all, if not some, of the conditions mentioned.

ALGENT HEALTH

One of the most preferred Therapy clinics; they aim to provide excellent care to their patients with a personalized touch to be able to restore them to their normal level of capacity. Specialize in the disorders of the muscle and skeletal system; they aim to assess and treat these disorders using manual therapy for the patient to regain normal function during their activities of daily living. They provide the following services:

(a) Occupational Therapy and Hand therapy – specializes on the function of the extremity, they help in making the daily activity tasks easy such as opening jars and zipping by making devices and tools to make these tasks trouble-free

(b) Women's Health – specializes in conditions such as pelvic floor weakness, pre natal and post partum pain and dysfunction

(c) Sports Medicine – provides care for athletes who underwent surgery and need a specific program for their sport.

(d) Wound Care – cleansing, debridement, and bandaging

(e) Working Conditions – they provide programs that will help improve working conditions to prevent injury or re-injury.

(f) Back to golf - a program that focuses on developing your skills to play the game by knowing the physical mechanism and limits of your body

(g) Functional Capacity Evaluation – a way to determine the safety and condition of the work environment of the patient who sustained an injury while working

(h) Manual Lymphatic drainage – usually done with patients who had undergone surgery or has been impaired by cancer; this light massage will be able to help the circulation and the immune system to recover from the disease.