What is Physical Therapy

Physical therapy, also well known as PT, is a special type of healthcare that is aimed at rehabilitating physical function and mobility. It is known for its wide range of techniques used to address musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and other physiological impairments. Physical therapists are highly trained and educated individuals who work closely with individuals of all ages and backgrounds to evaluate physical abilities. Once the evaluation is complete, the physical therapist creates a personalized treatment plan to improve the patients functional capacity and quality of life (Seron et. al, 2021). These treatment plans can include physical exercises, manual therapy techniques, heat or cold therapy, electrical stimulation, as well as injury prevention education and management strategies (Sullivan et. al, 2011).

The main goal of physical therapy is facilitating recovery and rehabilitation following an injury, surgery, or illness (Campbell, 2024). Physical therapists see patients following sports injuries, strokes, joint replacements, chronic condition management, etc. Physical therapy also plays a crucial role in helping individuals regain strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance. Physical therapists also work alongside other professionals such as physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists, to ensure comprehensive and coordinated care. With the personal care and ongoing support from physical therapists, patients are empowered to overcome physical challenges, maximize their independence, and achieve their optimal level of function. Alongside the many technological advancements throughout history, physical therapy has continued to grow with these technologies and can further help those in society who require the aid of physical rehabilitation.

History of Physical Therapy

Tui na is a Chinese medical massage that was widely used in ancient times from 771 to 221 BC or even earlier in Chinese history (Liu, et. al, 2013). Tui na has been used to treat diseases and even cured a patient suffering from “cadaverous syncope” which refers to loss of consciousness from a sudden reduction in blood flow to the brain. Jumping forward to the 20th century when the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, tui na entered a period of rapid development and formally became a major subject in China’s educational system in 1956.

Physical medicine is a field of labor in healthcare that started in the Netherlands around 1900 which includes mechanotherapy, hydrotherapy, balneotherapy, electrotherapy, light therapy, air therapy, and thermotherapy (Terlouw, 2013). Mechanotherapy is a major subset of physical medicine that was introduced into the Netherlands in 1840 and historically includes exercises, massages, and manipulations.

Connection to Science, Technology, and Society

Physical therapy is extremely intertwined with society. This being the understanding of the never ending changes that occur in the health and wellness industry (Stiller, 2000). Physical therapists are needed at any age by a multitude of people for numerous reasons. Specifically as society ages and faces increasing rates of chronic conditions and musculoskeletal issues, the demand for physical therapists continues to grow. Physical therapists play a vital role in keeping communities healthy and active by providing essential rehabilitation services to individuals recovering from injuries, surgeries, or managing long-term conditions. Physical therapy also contributes to societal well-being by promoting preventative measures and education on injury prevention and healthier lifestyles (Dean et. al, 2011). With their help, individuals feel most empowered and bring this spirit to their community. Overall improving society’s quality of life by reintroducing stronger individuals.

Technology has been a crucial part of modern physical therapy practice. With such technology, enhancement of both assessment and treatment methods have ensued. Things such as wearable devices, motion tracking systems, telehealth programs, and other action specific devices have enabled physical therapists to speed up the recovery process and introduce their patients back to their normal life faster. These technological innovations have allowed for more accurate monitoring of progress, personalized treatments plans, and remote consultations. Technology has allowed physical therapists to remain up to date with the latest research and practices, giving them the opportunity to produce the best quality care possible. By embracing the technology available, physical therapy has been able to adapt and evolve with the ever changing societal norms, thus meeting the needs of their patients.

Effectiveness of Physical Therapy

A major health problem in society is that 80% of individuals will present low back pain in their lifetime. Low back pain causes functional loss and reduced productivity (Şahin, et.al, 2017). Those with back pain longer than a 12 week duration are considered to have chronic low back pain, or CLBP. The study investigates the effect physical therapy has on pain and functional status of patients with low back pain. There were 104 patients for over 12 weeks without any other existing neurological deficiencies and were divided into two groups: the physical therapy group and the control group. The results showed that the combination of physical therapy, exercise, and medical treatment significantly improved pain and functional status in the physical therapy group compared to exercise and medical treatment alone in the control group. Both groups reported reduced pain, which was measured by VAS scores, and improved functional outcomes, which was measured by ODI and ILBP scores, at two weeks, three months, and one year after therapy. The physical therapy group had better results at all follow-up points. This study demonstrates that physical therapy, exercise, and medical treatment is more effective at treating chronic lower back pain than exercise and medical treatment alone.

Missing Voices

Unfortunately the great care that is provided by these physical therapists comes with a hefty price tag. Most of the time this price is not inexpensive, especially for those who do not have adequate insurance coverage or financial resources (Davenport et.al, 2023). This price means that there are people out there that would benefit from seeing a physical therapist who are unable to do so. The expenses that are associated with the large price tag are not only allotted to the sessions with the physical therapist themselves, but they include the price of the equipment used, specialized treatments necessary, or different modalities designed by the physical therapist. The cumulative expenses of ongoing physical therapy can become a significant financial burden. So despite all the benefits seen from introducing physical therapy to society, the cost barrier can limit access to the essential services for many individuals. This highlights the need for more affordable and accessible healthcare options.

There is no obvious intention to increase or decrease inequality across society when it comes to physical therapy, but there may be unintended repercussions. The goal of a physical therapist is to help a patient return to a good physical condition which would decrease inequality by making everyone as healthy as they can be. But it could be seen to increase inequality due to the groups of people who do not have access to physical therapy when needed. More inequalities that could be pointed out would be the schooling necessary to become a physical therapist. Though everyone can go to college and get the degree necessary to become a physical therapist, some socioeconomic classes would have a harder time fully committing to becoming a physical therapist due to the price of schooling for the extensive amount of years that are required.

Conclusions

Early physical therapy techniques like the Chinese medical massage, tui na, can be dated back as early as 771 BC and have only continued to evolve to the present day. Its long-lasting relevance has highlighted the importance of physical therapy techniques for the pain and functional treatment of patients. Physical medicine starting in the Netherlands around 1900 has also grown over time into a field including mechanotherapy which involves exercises, massages, and manipulations. These earlier therapies impacted what we call physical therapy today to improve patient rehabilitation and well-being.

Physical therapy is seen as a milestone in the healthcare system, providing services unlike any other resource in the medical community, aimed to restore physical function. The significance to society is undeniable, as it addresses the evolving needs of individuals through all ages and backgrounds while also working towards creating healthier communities and improving overall quality of life. The correlation seen between technology and physical therapy shows the adaptability and effectiveness in meeting the demands of modern practices. But with these advancements comes a considerable cost which creates a barrier for those unable to afford. As the world continues to advance, societal needs, technological progress, and healthcare affordability all need to become priorities to society to find adequate solutions. Only through the actions of repairing a flawed healthcare system can we maximize the potential of physical therapy to help society as a whole.

References

Campbell, S. K. (2024, April 18). physical therapy. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/physical-therapy

Dean, E., Al-Obaidi, S., Dornelas De Andrade, A., & Gosselink, R. (2011, May 25). The first physical therapy summit on global health: Implications and recommendations for the 21st Century. Physiotherapy theory and practice. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21612551/

Davenport, T. E., Griech, S. F., VanDeCarr, T., Rethorn, Z. D., & Magnusson, D. M. (2023, May 30). Social Power and the movement system: Why and how physical therapists might influence the upstream currents of health. OUP Academic. https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article-abstract/103/7/pzad052/7186364

Liu, L., Jiang, X., & Ke, G. (2013). Introduction to Tui Na (A. Duan, Tran.). World Century.

Şahin, N., Karahan, A. Y., & Albayrak, İ. (2017). Effectiveness of physical therapy and exercise on pain and functional status in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized-controlled trial. Turkish journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 64(1), 52–58. https://doi.org/10.5606/tftrd.2018.1238

Seron, P., Oliveros, M.-J., Gutierrez-Arias, R., Fuentes-Aspe, R., Torres-Castro, R. C., Merino-Osorio, C., Nahuelhual, P., Inostroza, J., Jalil, Y., Solano, R., Marzuca-Nassr, G. N Aguilera-Eguía, R., Lavados-Romo, P., Soto-Rodriguez, F. J., Sabelle, C., Villarroel-Silva, G., Gomolan, P., Huaiquilaf, S., & Sanchez, P. (2021, February 9). Effectiveness of telerehabilitation in physical therapy: A rapid overview. OUP Academic. https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/101/6/pzab053/6131423

Stiller, C. (2000). Exploring the ethos of the physical therapy profession in the United States: Social, cultural, and historical influences and their relationship to education. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 14(3), 7. http://libproxy.clemson.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/exploring-ethos-physical-therapy-profession/docview/217091589/se-2

Sullivan, K. J., Wallace, J. G., O’Neil, M. E., Musolino, G. M., Mandich, M., Studer, M. T., Bottomley, J. M., Cormack, J. C., Nicholson, S. K., & Jensen, G. M. (2011, November 1). A vision for society: Physical therapy as partners in the National Health Agenda. OUP Academic. https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/91/11/1664/2735136

Terlouw T. J. (2007). Roots of Physical Medicine, Physical Therapy, and Mechanotherapy in the Netherlands in the 19 Century: A Disputed Area within the Healthcare Domain. The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy, 15(2), E23–E41. https://doi.org/10.1179/jmt.2007.15.2.23E

Image Refrences

“Physical therapy clinic receives new equipment” by Staff Sgt. Stephenie Wade is in the Public Domain.

AI Acknowledgement

I acknowledge the use of ChatGPT3.5(https://chat.openai.com/) to add content to this chapter. The prompts used include: “How much does physical therapy cost” “How does physical therapy relate to society and technology” “Discuss what physical therapy is”. The output from these prompts was used to increase the content of this chapter while also including more of a variety of information.