9 Types of Physical Therapy Explained

Physical therapy is a crucial component of any orthopedic condition’s recovery process, whether you’re facing a disorder, disability, disease, or injury. Physical therapists use a variety of techniques and methods to help patients get better. Here are nine types of physical therapy that you may find useful for your orthopedic recovery. 

Exercise

Exercise is a crucial component of physical therapy. Physical therapy exercise allows you to apply the right amount of physical stress on your body to help strengthen it. Exercise done the right way strengthens muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other tissues in the body. It also increases range of motion and flexibility so the body can take on more stress and move as freely as possible. Unlike regular exercise, physical therapy exercise keeps your condition in mind and caters exercise routines around it.

Physical therapists are a great resource to help you recover after an injury or surgery, because they’re trained to guide you on the right types of exercises and the proper form, to gradually strengthen you without the risk of additional injury.

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy involves methods like massaging, stretching movements, and strengthening exercises to help improve functionality of the area needing healing. Physical therapists may use hands-on methods to manipulate the body in these ways.

Therapeutic Ultrasound

Ultrasound is an FDA-approved physical therapy procedure that helps with fracture healing, plantar fasciitis, and more. It involves moving a device called a transducer on the injured area to emit sound waves to heat tissue in the injured area, such as muscles or tendons. The increased temperature helps with blood flow, which can improve and quicken the healing process.

Phonophoresis

This physical therapy procedure uses both ultrasound and a medication gel, with the ultrasound helping to pass the medication through the skin and into the injured area. This technique helps the body absorb medication better so it’s more effective in treating the patient’s injury.

Electrical Stimulation

Electrodes are attached to the skin in the injured area to stimulate muscles, which helps reduce pain and increase functionality.

Iontophoresis

With this physical therapy treatment, medication is delivered through the skin to an injured area using electrical stimulation. The muscle movement prompted by stimulation helps the medication move through the injured area more effectively, which enhances healing and relief from pain.

Heat

Heat is used in physical therapy to relieve pain. The most common way to apply heat is through hot packs made of sacks filled with sand or a silica mixture. The packs are heated, wrapped in towels, and applied to the injured area in 15- to 20-minute intervals to ease pain.

Cold

Cold therapy involves applying cold gel or ice packs to the injured area. This technique helps reduce inflammation, pain, and swelling. Similar to heat therapy, ice packs are wrapped in towels and applied in 15- to 20-minute intervals to the injured area.

Light Therapy

With light therapy, light particles treat a variety of issues. Infrared light contains particles called photons that have healing properties. Light therapy delivers these natural healing properties through the skin to the injured area to speed up healing.

PT and Orthopedic Expertise in Central Maryland

If you are suffering from an orthopedic injury or condition, it’s crucial to find an experienced and caring orthopedic team to help you get better. The Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland have a team of board-certified orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists, podiatrists, and other medical professionals with expertise in state-of-the-art and advanced orthopedic treatments, including physical therapy.

To get patient-focused and effective treatment for your orthopedic needs, call (410) 644-1880 to make an appointment today. You can also request an appointment online.