The principles of physical therapy have been around since the dawn of man. When people think of physical therapy they think of someone who is trying to relearn how to walk after a debilitating car accident or some circumstance like that. When in reality the act of physical therapy can be as little as rubbing a bruise or scratching an insect bite. Physical Therapy is as the American Physical Therapists Association defines a form of Health care that prevents, identifies, and alleviates acute or prolonged movement dysfunction of anatomic or physiologic origin.
In the past Physical Therapists helped war victims overcome pains of injuries sustained in war. They would move the limbs in certain patterns to get the muscles used to doing it. Physical therapy was officially introduced into the U.S. by the Surgeon Generals office in 1917.Way before that though Peter Hanley ling developed the First scientific basis for therapeutic massage. In the times of Homer hydrotherapy was used.
Now physical therapy is used for all kinds of things like helping young children overcome crippling birth defects, help stroke victims restore movement in their limbs or it can help post operative patients to a speedy recovery. But most importantly in can help prevent those things. It teaches techniques to relieve pain and avoid it.
Some other fields you may find Physical therapists include: Neurology: it is the science of the nerves of the nervous system .
Sports medicine: a field of medicine concerned with the functioning of the human body during physical activity and with the prevention and treatment of athletic injuries.
Orthopedics: the medical specialty concerned with correction of deformities or functional impairments of the skeletal system, especially the extremities and the spine, and associated structures, as muscles and ligaments.
Pediatrics: the branch of medicine concerned with the development, care, and diseases of babies and children.
