Physical Therapy Treatment

In San Benito, California a developer is currently poised to spend millions of dollars to purchase a fan abandoned hospital and completely renovate the building into a new medical facility geared toward the aging population in that area. In Rochester New York, two hospitals have constructed assisted living facilities specifically for the elderly within the last several years; a couple of more are in the works as well. It is a story that is being played out in both large and small cities around the country as our population continues to age.

With the aging population and industry adaptations designed to accommodate it, physical-therapist jobs are becoming more and more plentiful. While the aging population certainly needs all types of medical professionals, physical therapists are a vital part in helping our seniors live as normal and productive a life as possible. The result is a long list of nursing homes, assisted living centers, and even private practices searching to fill vacant physiotherapy jobs.

Physical Therapy Makes a Better Life

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting that physical therapy makes a better life for those who need it. One example is a St. Louis area mail carrier who suffered two strokes in a very short amount of time. After receiving the proper medical care, this dynamic middle-aged mother was sent to a nursing facility in order to begin her physical therapy. After what seemed like an eternity to her, she walked out of that facility and back to her mail route.

There are other stories, too. Stories of car accident victims who underwent physiotherapy to regain use of damaged limbs. Others who needed help recovering from surgery or a debilitating illness. Still others who were born with physical deformities that could only be overcome with the help of physical-therapies. The point is that although an aging population is certainly contributing to an increased need for physical therapists, the need still exists among all ages and demographic groups.

A Bright Future

Statistics regarding the medical field, and physiotherapist jobs specifically, show a bright future for those who are employed in this field. Among all medical workers, physical therapists routinely report some of the highest levels of job satisfaction and career fulfillment. More than just the financial rewards, physical therapists note a real and tangible method of their own success by how well their patients respond to treatment. At the end of the day having helped someone make a better life through physical therapy is the greatest reward the job can offer.

Statistics also indicate that physical-therapy-jobs will be plentiful at least for the next several years. And with a population that continues to live longer with each passing year, it doesn’t appear as though the demand will be slowing down anytime soon. Jobs will be available in hospitals, public clinics, nursing homes, assisted living communities, schools, private practices, and so on. And they will be available in major cities and rural areas – and everywhere in between.

It may be very easy to look for a person who can be satisfied with any type of job, but in general, not all professions have high job satisfaction rates. If you have plans to start a new career, it is worthy to note how the professionals fell about their work so you can picture the feeling once you will be practicing the same profession. It can help you decide if you really want to follow this path. As in the case of physical therapists, they show more satisfaction with their job, giving more exciting reasons to would-be physical therapy students to enter the profession.

The National Opinion Research Center found this to be true based on the survey they conducted in 2007. According to the survey, only less than one fourth of the respondents did not give a ‘very satisfied’ mark on their job. In other words, more than 75% were found to be very satisfied, which proves that you will most probably be satisfied too once you made up your mind to pursue physical therapy.

This percentage placed physical therapy at second rank in the highest rated professions for job satisfaction. The top spot was taken by clergy while the remaining professions in the top 5 are not related to medical fields.

In fact, physical therapy is propelled to popularity by other significant reviews and lists. The profession was ranked 4th in CNNMoney.com’s top 100 best job in the US for 2010. Physical therapy was also on the 2009 best careers list of the U.S. News and World Report.

Since you now realized how highly appreciated physical therapy is within the ranks of its practitioners, you have to know the reason behind it. And the surefire top one reason for that is physical therapy is highly satisfying with regards to how you become an instrument in helping and improving the lives of others in every day of your work. It always brings a positive feeling because if you’re a physical therapist, you know that your job is more meaningful.

Although immaterial compensations are awesome, let’s face it, it’s also essential to consider getting a high-paying salary for your new career. High income rates and numerous job opportunities are awaiting the new practitioners. This shows that you’ll get hired pretty quickly. Thereafter, you’ll get paid deservingly not to mention all the incentives and benefits you’ll get.

Other careers fared hardly beyond 50% in satisfaction rate while a lot more did no better than that. With a high 75% satisfaction rate among physical therapists, and a top 2 spot in best careers list, you cannot simply ignore taking physical therapy seriously. Consider the great rewards of helping others and many opportunities as well as a high salary, and the way you look at physical therapy would never be the same when you consider taking it up.

Hydrotherapy (also known as Aquatic or Pool Physiotherapy) is a “hands on” approach utilizing unique features of water to facilitate normal movement patterns and mobility. It is a beneficial form of therapy that is useful for a variety of medical conditions. Hydrotherapy is performed in a thermo regulated hydrotherapy pool by registered physiotherapists and hydrotherapy instructors.

We often get asked if hydrotherapy is the same as Aqua Fit. No…It is a physiotherapy treatment just like on land. The physiotherapist is in the water with the patient mobilizing joints, working with the soft tissue guiding and monitoring movements.

Hydrotherapy treatment is performed in one on one setting or in small groups consisting of 3-4 patients. The session would start with some general warm up exercises, followed by more specific exercises tailored to each patient’s problem or certain manual therapy techniques. The therapy session lasts about 45-60 minutes. Usually, extra time allowed in the pool for some additional exercise work or for swimming.

Benefits of Water

-Reduces the force of stress placed on the joints: it is safer and less painful to perform exercises.

-Water’s buoyancy provides support needed for joint mobilization as well as easily adjustable resistance allowing strengthening of specific muscle groups

- Increases joint position awareness improving proprioception and motor control – Hydrostatic pressure helps to decrease joint and soft tissue swelling

- Warmth of the water assists in relaxing muscles and increases blood flow to injured areas.

Indications for Hydrotherapy

-Post surgical: fractures, joints replace spinal surgery where partial or non weight bearing is indicated. Hydrotherapy allows to start early weight-bearing , putting as little as 10% of bodyweight on a limb. The amount of weight bearing is determined by depth of the water where treatment is performed.

- Severe Whiplash or other Acute Pain – heated pool environment allows easier movement compared to exercise on land.

-Chronic Low Back Pain – hydrotherapy is excellent in improving core stability and lumbo-pelvic proprioception.

-Arthritic conditions such as Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis etc.

-Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue syndrome – allows a full body workout with low energy expense.

-Soft tissue injuries with significant range of motion limitation such as severe Frozen Shoulder.

-Balance disorders and fall prevention in Seniors

-General reconditioning including muscle strengthening and cardio-vascular endurance.

Contraindications for Hydrotherapy.

Hydrotherapy is generally very safe and suitable for all age groups. However, there are few medical conditions in which entry to the pool is prohibited:

-Open Wounds or Burns

-Unstable Fractures

-Incontinence

-Multiple Sclerosis which is sensitive to heat

-Severe Cardiac Problems