| Physical therapy clinics are places where people | | | | exercise mats, weight training equipment, etc. |
| with injuries, disabilities, and certain physical | | | | These are used to strengthen and stimulate |
| conditions can go to get professional treatment | | | | motor functions and treat other challenges that |
| for their ailments. The clinics offer treatments | | | | patients face. |
| daily from Mondays through Fridays with some | | | | Because of the nature of illnesses and ailments |
| staying open even on Saturdays. These clinics are | | | | physical therapy patients face, the clinic must |
| staffed with physical therapists and their | | | | have an atmosphere of calm and positivity to it |
| assistants, all of who are board-certified and able | | | | as promoted by its staff members to encourage |
| to handle various cases as patients present to | | | | and improve the patients' self-esteem and |
| them. | | | | well-being. For instance, the morale of a stroke |
| Patients must be referred by other qualified | | | | patient who is used to independence but is now |
| medical practitioners for them to be seen and | | | | wheelchair bound is prone to depression and low |
| evaluated by physical therapists in their clinics. | | | | self-esteem. Clinic staff must be sensitive to this |
| Many referrals come from neurologists, geriatrics, | | | | and trained to interact and care for the patient |
| orthopedics and sports medicine physicians. Other | | | | appropriately, ultimately contributing to the |
| physicians with specialties in pediatrics, | | | | patient's improved self-esteem down the road. |
| cardiologists, podiatrists and internists also refer | | | | A good physical therapy clinic must be equipped |
| patients who have concerns with respect to their | | | | to handle the more common ailments, like stroke, |
| mobility and physical functioning. Therapists are | | | | cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid |
| not allowed to treat patients without these | | | | arthritis, neck pains, sprains, carpal tunnel |
| referrals. | | | | syndrome, frozen shoulder, back pains, tennis |
| Since these clinics see mostly patients with | | | | elbow, osteoarthritis, other joint conditions, |
| impairments in their physical functioning, the clinics | | | | sports-related injuries and more. |
| are set up to accommodate these concerns to | | | | Specialized treatments are offered by certain |
| make it a safe and convenient environment for | | | | qualified clinics with more in depth training in |
| their patients. In addition, physical therapists see | | | | specific areas, like geriatric, orthopedic, pediatric, |
| to it that they have everything in place to assure | | | | neurologic and cardiopulmonary conditions. This is |
| an accident-free environment. | | | | why physical therapists also work in conjunction |
| The usual clinic set up includes a reception area, | | | | with speech and occupational therapists, dieticians, |
| treatment rooms and a staff area. The | | | | orthotists, psychologists and even social workers. |
| treatment room contains treatment tables, a | | | | All this is to bring about comprehensive healing for |
| hydrotherapy section, exercise mats and other | | | | the patient's ultimate well-being. |
| more specific equipment depending on the | | | | In short, physical therapy clinics are a rich |
| specialty of the therapist holding clinic hours there | | | | resource of healing for patients who are struck |
| and depending on the needs of the patients. | | | | with a variety of physical conditions brought about |
| Some of the more basic and usual equipment in a | | | | by diseases and injuries. As such, physical |
| physical therapy clinic includes an ultrasound | | | | therapists are responsible for always continuing |
| machine, TENS, electronic muscle stimulus, | | | | and updating their knowledge and training so as to |
| hydroculator units, stationary bikes, paraffin bath, | | | | present the latest innovative techniques in the |
| traction, gym balls, diathermy, parallel bars, | | | | treatment of their patients. |