Physical Therapy: Past and Present

October is the official month of Physical Therapy. In order to celebrate this, we at Professional Rehabilitation Services would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our past and present clients for allowing us to serve the Grand Strand since 2004.  I have been asked numerous times over the years, both in the clinic and out, exactly what physical therapy is and what it will do for my patients.  Perhaps a little perspective of the profession itself and the history might clarify this to an extent. 

Physical therapy is currently defined by the American Physical Therapy Association as "clinical applications in the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_therapy - cite_note-Description_of_Physical_Therapy-0 You may be referred to a physical therapist (PT) from your doctor to assist with injuries or conditions that limit your ability to move and perform daily activities as well as you would like.  Physical therapy is performed by a licensed physical therapist and sometimes services are provided by a physical therapist assistant (PTA) acting under the direction of a licensed PT.  PTs are healthcare professionals who help diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very oldest, which have medical problems or other health-related conditions and injuries.

PTs use an individual's past medical history and a physical examination to help establish an appropriate treatment plan and attainable goals for the patient to restore functional independence with daily activities.  PT services commonly include specific strengthening and stretching exercises to address weakness and asymmetry, manual therapy and manipulation techniques, patient education, as well as various other modalities and interventions to assist with pain and dysfunction.

The practice of physical therapy can be traced back to about 460 BC, when physicians Hippocrates and Hector are suggested to have used massage therapy and hydrotherapy (water therapy) to treat their patients.  Depending on the source, the earliest documented origins of actual physical therapy as a professional group date back to Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics in 1813 for massage, manipulation, and exercise. In 1887, PTs were given official registration by Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, in England, in 1894 was a group formed by trained nurses with the aim to specifically provide physiotherapy services to the general public.  Following this, several institutes started training programs for physiotherapy such as the School of Physiotherapy, established in 1913 at the University of Otago, New Zealand.

American orthopedic surgeons began treating children with disabilities and began employing women trained in physical education, massage, and remedial exercise. These treatments were applied and promoted further during the Polio outbreak of 1916.

During the First World War (1917-1918) women were recruited to work with and restore physical function to injured soldiers, and the field of physical therapy was institutionalized. In 1918 the term "Reconstruction Aide" was used to refer to individuals practicing physical therapy. The first school of physical therapy was established at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. following the outbreak of World War I

Mary McMillan, who is widely regarded as "The Mother of Physical Therapy" founded the American Women's Physical Therapeutic Association, which was later changed to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). It was in 1921, a landmark year for the profession that the first research paper on physical therapy was published in the US and a national accreditation of physical therapy programs was established.

In 1956, physical therapists, APTA and medical researchers jointly worked and cooperated on the Salk vaccine trials, which led to the development of a polio vaccine. By this time, physical therapy was being practiced as a common health care profession in the US. In 1974, the Orthopedic Section by APTA was founded.

In the subsequent years, more research studies were conducted and papers were published on physical therapy establishing it as an integral component of the healthcare paradigm. Physical therapy has continued to progress over the years with an ever expanding library of research and currently 206 of 213 accredited physical therapy programs in the US offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT)

Because the body of knowledge of physical therapy is quite large, some PTs specialize in a specific clinical area. While there are many different types of physical therapy, the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties list eight specialist certifications including: Cardiovascular & Pulmonary, Clinical Electrophysiology, Geriatric, Integumentary, Neurological, Orthopaedic, and Pediatric.

To us, there is no higher compliment than a referral of a family or friend, and we have made it our personal and professional endeavor to bring the most effective and most efficient care to our patients. Our therapists strive to attain the highest levels of education and specialization, so that you as our clients will be confident that you are receiving the best possible care. 

We would like to welcome the addition of Richard DeFalco DPT, OCS, CSCS to the Professional Rehabilitation Family.  Dr. Richard DeFalco is the newest member of Professional Rehabilitation Services and will be the practicing partner at the new Myrtle Beach office located on the corner of Highway 17 Bypass and 48^th Avenue North.