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What Exactly Is A Physical Therapist?

Updated: Jan 12, 2021

I’ve been a physical therapist for nearly 33 years and I’m always surprised when people don’t quite know what I do!


Unless you’ve experienced an injury, a surgery with rehab, or a sports training assessment, you may not really understand what a physical therapist does either.


DPT – what the letters after my name actually mean


As a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) specializing in orthopedics, I’m recognized as a musculoskeletal specialist. This means that I know and understand the body’s muscles, nerves, and skeletal system so I can treat various conditions, movement patterns, and injuries when a person’s body doesn’t function the way they need and want it to.





As a PT it’s my role to assess and treat these conditions so my patients can accomplish things like learning to train appropriately to run a marathon, avoid soccer injuries by practicing an injury prevention program, or rehabilitation after a total joint replacement.


PT Treatment isn’t “one-size-fits-all”


Each of my patients is a unique and complex human being, and I tailor treatment to their specific body and needs. It’s one of the most rewarding parts of my profession to honor and address each person’s personal lifestyle and goals. It’s my highest priority to treat each person with a holistic approach that benefits and meets them physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally in the process. With this type of attitude, alongside my personal motto “Never Plateau,” I can help my patients reach their own new heights!


Here are some of the ways I can help you:


Orthopedic Rehab

I begin with a patient-centered evaluation to assess and treat conditions of the neck, back, shoulder, hip, knee, foot and ankle. I treat shoulder impingement syndrome, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, broken bones, hip, knee or shoulder replacements, and other conditions.


Manual Therapy

I use manual therapy in conjunction with traditional physical therapy techniques. This technique uses pressure applied on muscle tissue to mobilize or manipulate body joints versus using a machine or device to do so. Manual therapy can be quite effective for treating both acute and chronic pain.


Cupping

As a PT, I use a variety of modalities to help patients recover. Cupping is an ancient Chinese treatment which has gained increased attention in recent years for its healing power of pulling on the skin and fascia to increase blood flow and decrease pain and inflammation.


Dry Needling

Another modality I use with patients is dry needling, which uses a very thin needle inserted into the muscle to release or inactivate trigger points resulting in pain relief and improved range of motion. Dry needling also reduces muscle tension and promotes athletic recovery, which can speed up a patient’s return to their active lifestyle.


If your body is telling you it’s time for a reset, call me at 720-320-4213, or email me at info@therecoveryjoint.com to schedule an appointment so we can get you back in the game!

Helping you move forward,

Trish

PT, DPT






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