November 18, 2024
Orthopedic physical therapy can be life-changing. A skilled physical therapist (PT) can get you back on track with your daily activities after surgery, an injury, accident, or illness.
An orthopedic PT works to integrate all your other bodily systems — especially your neurological and cardiovascular systems — with your musculoskeletal system to treat your injury or condition appropriately.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what orthopedic physical therapy is, when you may need it, and the types of treatments it includes.
Orthopedic physical therapy involves the care of your entire musculoskeletal system, which includes your:
A PT who specializes in orthopedics can evaluate your condition and diagnose the issue or condition you have. This will include:
Orthopedic physical therapy is provided in outpatient clinics, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, sports facilities, and even in your home.
The entry-level degree for a PT these days is a clinical doctorate. So when you go to work with a PT, you’re working with a doctor of physical therapy, who has completed three years of graduate school studies.
“Orthopedic physical therapists treat almost any condition that affects your ability to move or function physically in your daily life,” said Steve Vighetti, a fellow of the American Academy of Manual Orthopedic Physical Therapists.
Let’s look at some of the most common conditions and issues that are treated by orthopedic PTs.
Orthopedic physical therapy can be a primary or complementary treatment option for the following types of musculoskeletal conditions:
Some PTs specialize in treating specific patient populations.
A sports PT, for example, can help athletes move safely in an effort to prevent injuries. They can also help athletes recover from sports-related injuries.
A PT who works primarily with older adults can help their patients improve their balance to prevent falls. They can also help older adults recover from knee or hip replacement surgery, or maintain their strength and mobility as they age.
Other PTs specialize in helping people recover from conditions like cancer or low back pain, or the effects of pregnancy and childbirth.
“One condition people may not associate with physical therapy is pelvic floor dysfunction,” Vighetti said.
“People accept urinary incontinence and painful sex almost as rights of passage after you’ve had a couple of children. It’s something people may not even realize you can get help for — but you can. You can make changes and see real improvements.”
After you have surgery, orthopedic physical therapy may help reduce pain, normalize your walking, improve your range of motion, and prevent excessive scar tissue buildup.
Additionally, it may also help you regain your balance, strength, and mobility.
Patients often work with orthopedic PTs after surgeries such as:
An acute injury is one that happens as a result of a single trauma to the body. If you sprain an ankle, tear your meniscus, or herniate a disc in your back, an orthopedic PT can help you:
A chronic injury is damage to your body that occurs over time, usually because your movement patterns have caused small, repetitive injuries to your tendons, bones, or joints. Examples of chronic injuries include:
An orthopedic PT can analyze your movement patterns to isolate the source of the injury. They can also help you manage symptoms like pain and swelling, and can educate you about how to move safely to avoid injuries in the future.
Orthopedic PTs use a wide range of therapeutic modalities, exercises, assistive devices, and patient education methods to help you.
Depending on how your therapist uses these treatments, they may be:
Here are some examples of treatments that may be used with orthopedic physical therapy.
Orthopedic PTs use both cryotherapy (cold therapy) and thermotherapy (heat therapy) to treat musculoskeletal pain and swelling.
In a 2015 study involving 100 patients, both heat and ice helped prevent muscle damage, but cold used immediately after intense exercise was more effective at preventing muscle soreness.
Your therapist will create an exercise plan that will likely include strengthening, mobility, or balance-building exercises.
It’s a good idea to practice the exercises with your therapist at first so you know you’re doing them correctly. Once you know how to do the exercises properly, you will be encouraged to do them at home on a regular basis to help boost your strength and mobility.
There is some evidence that electrical stimulation has the ability to cut down on pain.
When a PT uses this treatment modality, the therapist attaches an e-stim device to the injured area of your body.
There are two main types of e-stim devices. They include:
Traction takes the pressure off compressed or damaged joints. It can be conducted with a piece of equipment or with the therapist’s hands, and is considered helpful for people with:
Your therapist may incorporate water therapy into your treatment plan. You may perform exercises in a pool or whirlpool as part of your rehabilitation.
This type of therapy can be especially helpful if you have joint issues or injuries because water provides gentle resistance. The buoyancy that water provides helps support you while you exercise, which reduces the impact you place on your joints.
A soft tissue manipulation is a form of manual physical therapy in which the PT uses hands-on techniques on your muscles, ligaments, and fascia. This is done to break adhesions and to optimize your muscle function.
Although more research is needed to verify the specific effects of soft tissue manipulation, it is generally recommended as a way to reduce pain and decrease muscle tension.
This technique involves a therapist moving your joint firmly and carefully in the desired direction. Like soft tissue manipulation, it is a manual technique.
In some states, PTs are permitted to use dry needling, a technique that’s similar to acupuncture.
With this technique, the therapist inserts a thin needle into a specifically targeted muscle with a trigger point — usually one that is the source of tension or pain.
Orthopedic PTs may use low-level laser or light therapies to boost muscle performance, reduce muscle fatigue, and enable muscle repair after an injury.
Kinesiology tape is an extremely flexible band of tape made of stretchy fabric. This therapeutic tape, which often comes in bright colors or snappy patterns, is applied to specific areas of the body.
Although there is little research to support its effectiveness, anecdotal evidence suggests that kinesiology tape may help:
