Taking a personal and direct approach to meet the needs and goals of individuals with health problems, the physical therapist assists in the recovery process - making them stronger, relieving their pain, helping to regain use of an affected limb and to relearn activities such as walking, transfer and stair mobility.
Physical therapy techniques include:
- therapeutic exercise (range of motion, strengthening and balance),
- gait and transfer training,
- cardiovascular/pulmonary endurance training,
- wound care,
- pain modalities, and
- neuromuscular facilitation.
Because recovery does not end when patients are discharged from medical rehabilitation, the physical therapist will teach patients and their families what to do so that the healing continues through self care at home.