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How physical therapists evaluate patients

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Kitsa Antonopoulos
How physical therapists evaluate patients

How physical therapists can evaluate child therapy in Chicago? Before we can explain how physical therapists evaluate patients, we need to understand how doctors diagnose patients in the first place. Each body part has a specific test that doctors utilize to diagnose diseases or disorders. For example, shoulder injury is usually diagnosed by doing shoulder abduction and external rotation tests. Physical therapists have to be able to quickly and accurately assess the condition of their patients. By determining the specific problem, they can come up with a treatment plan that gets the patient back in shape as soon as possible. Physical therapists diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate a patient's treatment goals based on completed evaluations and assessments to ease pain, increase mobility, prevent injury, restore normal function and promote health. 


How do physical therapists evaluate patients?


Physical therapists evaluate patients to assess their need for physical therapy services and to determine a plan of care. The evaluation includes the patient's history, assessment of current function, and determination of prognosis. The goals of physical therapy treatment are determined by the patient's functional needs over time. These functional needs may include mobilizing, exercising, and training to improve muscle strength, coordination, balance, endurance, and flexibility. Patients also may need to learn or relearn skills such as walking, climbing stairs, bathing, or dressing. When appropriate, physical therapists also instruct patients in self-care skills at home and in returning to work or recreational activities. In addition, they teach family members how best to assist with the patient's recovery.


What is the process of physical therapy evaluation?


Physical therapy evaluation is a process that takes place at the start of physical therapy treatment. It's used to determine the cause and severity of your pain or mobility problems, and to create a plan for addressing them. The process typically involves a combination of hands-on testing and examination, plus an in-depth interview with you, the patient. This provides the therapist with all the information needed to design a personalized treatment plan that addresses your specific needs.


Physical therapists are highly trained professionals.


Physical therapists are highly trained professionals. They must pass a national exam and become licensed to practice in their state. Most states require physical therapists to complete continuing education courses over the course of their careers. A physical therapist may work with a general patient population, or they may have experience in working with a particular age group or type of patient. For example, some physical therapists are professionals in working with pediatric patients, while others choose to work only with older adults who have experienced a fall. Another professional might work only with workers who have been injured on the job.


Physical therapists evaluate patients to learn about their medical conditions and develop therapeutic plans. The process of evaluation begins with an interview in which a health history is obtained. During the physical assessment, measurements are taken and tests are administered. In addition, the physical therapist may administer electrical stimulation and apply heat and cold to the body to gauge muscle strength and joint range of motion. Depending on the type of body ailments and the kind or the severity of the condition, certain techniques, and physical therapy equipment may be a part of the test. Physical therapists utilize various techniques to analyze a patient’s condition according to their symptoms and also according to their age, gender, and other vital signs.


Lumiere Children's Therapy

Address: 1500 N Clybourn Ave, Suite C-105, Chicago, IL, 60610, US

Phone: (312) 242-1665

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