To find out what the difference between a Physiotherapist and a physical therapist is, of course we must first explain the meaning between the two terms.
What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a treatment system that is applied to treat diseases such as injuries, disorders through physical methods such as those that occur due to sports, manipulation, massage, and other treatments carried out by surgery or medication. Most people believe that treatment through Physiotherapy is useful in curing back injuries and sports problems. Even though this is not entirely the case, where Physiotherapy is a very complex treatment system carried out by professional experts for those who suffer from physical problems, either injuries, wounds, injuries or due to aging.
So, treatment with the Physiotherapy system is complex and can handle many health problems related to the physical.
Well, the goal of a physiotherapist is to improve a person’s quality of life, by treating someone it is hoped that the person can enjoy their activities and work again in becoming a useful person in this life. They treat a person’s illness to relieve pain, restore organ function, whether in case of permanent injury or permanent illness. As much as possible they will eliminate the bad effects of the disease.
The Role of Physiotherapist
The role of physiotherapists varies and is often not the same between the first day of treatment and the second day. Maybe they need to diagnose in advance how the patient’s disease is so that they know how to take appropriate treatment steps. Or sometimes patients with certain diseases need to try to learn to walk first, overcome crutches, or walk in a wheelchair.
Education that is given slowly by a physiotherapist is also important in this treatment. They sometimes spend a lot of time with patients, families and communities to teach them how to live healthy and useful lives. They can also establish or suggest the establishment of a fitness center that can be used to train the body to be healthier.
Physiotherapists can also issue sick leave letters to patients if needed.
In carrying out the profession as a physiotherapist, they have to take care of all kinds of people, children, premature babies, children with cerebral palsy, pregnant women, athletes, rehabilitation workers, the elderly so that they are more fit. This means that they also provide direction and other assistance to patients who are recovering from stroke, heart disease or other diseases.
Physiotherapists always have a positive view in helping all humans to get good health and become quality human beings by being able to do various useful things.
Because here we are discussing Physiotherapy vs physical therapy, then we must also know what is said with physical therapy.
What is Physical Therapy?
Physical Therapy or abbreviated as PT is a type of treatment carried out to relieve pain in patients, help you function properly, and much more. Below are some of the help you get from physical therapy.
Sometimes you need treatment for things like the following, so you have to undergo physical therapy (PT) treatment.
- Improve movement and abilities
- Relieve pain
- Prevent injury or recover from sports injuries
- Prevent defects or prevent operation
- Rehabilitation after stroke, injury, surgery or after an accident
- Work on balance and avoid slipping and falling
- Managing dangerous diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis.
- Controlling recovery after childbirth
- control the bladder and intestines
- Teach you to be able to adapt to artificial limbs (such as prosthetic limbs).
- Learn to use walking aids such as canes
- Get your splint or brace
What Is a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapists are health professionals who receive special graduate training in physical therapy. Maybe they are more popularly known as PT or physiotherapists.
To become a good therapist you must graduate from a well accredited university with a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DTP) degree. This is important to be able to meet the requirements for the national exam. In addition to the national exam, you must take other exams in order to get a license or permit to work as a competent therapist.
Physical therapy is also still related to treatment, experts will evaluate and develop a treatment plan for your disease. Sometimes they do direct treatment, sometimes also teach you special exercises to be able to move and so on.
In some parts of the country you can go directly to a physical therapist without a referral from a doctor. Doctors can also sometimes prescribe medicine for you. Check your insurance policy to see if you should get a prescription to cover the cost or not.
If you have a serious or severe illness, a physical therapist will not replace a team of experts on you. However, they will work with your doctor or other expert team in providing health services to you. The goal is that you can remain fully functional as before illness or injury. So, the speed of healing will be different when you are guided directly by PT.
Physical therapists usually use assistants at work. These assistants are also trained in dealing with patients in certain ways.
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Benefits of Physical Therapy for Seniors
Elderly is one of the targets of the science of physical therapy. So, many elderly people are brought in and have to get therapy from a physical therapist so that they can keep moving and their bodies function.
Their physical therapists also use certain tools to help patients recover from their health.
Well, the use of aids and assistants like this also shows the difference between physiotherapy and physical therapy. Well, after understanding the difference between physiotherapy and physical therapy, many suggest that physiotherapy includes manual therapy like stretching, soft tissue release, fascia release.
However, as we have mentioned, physical therapists are generally employees of those with very modalities. Physical therapists also aim to use exercises to strengthen muscles, improve balance, and aid coordination.
So what are the benefits of physical therapy?
There are several benefits of physical therapy such as for the elderly in terms of injury prevention. healthy breathing exercises, these exercises must be done regularly, increase the flexibility of body movements, and are useful in eliminating or reducing acute pain.
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Physical therapy helps seniors to strengthen their body muscles and this is very helpful in reducing and curing arthritis. Well, having strong muscles can also reduce the risk of various accidents occurring in the elderly in the future. We all know that a strong body has the ability to heal quickly. Injuries such as those caused by falls are complex because they can cause changes in the lifestyle and quality of life of seniors.
The benefits of physical therapy can also help recover the elderly from various daily problems such as neck pain, joint pain, old injuries, and dealing with matters related to carpal tunnel syndrome. So, there are many chronic diseases suffered by the elderly in the past that can be overcome with physical therapy.
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However, the main thing in the treatment that is carried out by physical therapists is caring for those who experience problems with decreasing quality of life. For most, conditions such as pain is a natural thing that occurs due to age or aging, some people with just doing casual exercise and diet can solve the problem. However, for millions of people in the United States, physical therapy is one of the best forms of therapy available for the purpose of improving people’s quality of life.