Electrotherapy is a treatment in which electrical currents are delivered transcutaneously to stimulate nerves and muscles, thus reducing pain and swelling and promoting improved mobility. It often is used as an accessory treatment for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions.
Endurance training is a type of exercise aimed at increasing endurance by training the body’s aerobic system and initiating various muscular and cardiovascular adaptations, often with a goal of improving performance in endurance sports such as running, biking, or swimming.
Ergonomics is a field of scientific study focused on people at work. The goal of conducting ergonomics studies is to decrease employee stress and reduce the incidence of injuries and other disorders related to muscle overuse, bad posture, and other effects of work activities.
A falls prevention program includes balance, coordination, and agility exercises aimed at minimizing a patient’s risk of sustaining a fall and suffering an injury as a result. In addition to preventing falls, such programs may focus on building muscle tissue, thereby reducing the severity of damage sustained as the result of a fall.
The synchronization and coordination of small muscle movements, also known as fine motor skill, is developed gradually throughout infancy and childhood. If a child falls behind in fine motor skill development, he or she may participate in an occupational therapy program designed to promote progress in this area.
A common service provided by physical therapists and other musculoskeletal experts is the development of a personalized exercise prescription based on a thorough fitness evaluation. This is basically a set of guidelines, along with specific exercises tailored to the individual’s needs and abilities.
Also known as restricted environmental stimulus therapy, flotation therapy involves floating in a tank of warm salt water. Such flotation sessions have been shown to alleviate stress, pain, swelling, and anxiety. It also may help with sleep problems and jet lag.
A functional assessment includes a series of tests and measures designed to identify and evaluate the type and extent of a physical therapy patient’s limitations. During the assessment, the therapist will collect information about movement patterns involving the shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles.
Gait analysis is the evaluation of movement in athletes and/or patients recovering from injury or impairment. By analyzing body mechanics, gait analysis reveals where the body compensates for imbalance or has inefficiencies. This method is used to treat mobility issues, prevent injury, and/or improve athletic performance.
Physical therapists provide gait training to people who have lost their ability to stand and move around safely, either on their own or with the use of an assistive device such as a cane or walker. One of the main goals of gait training is preventing falls.