Hello, and welcome to five fun facts about PT with our hosts: Sarah, Chris and Michelle. Sarah, kick us off with fascinating fact number one.
Fun Fact #1
Many physical therapy techniques date back to 400 BC. Greek physicians are believed to be among the first advocates of massage hydrotherapy. There are even ancient writings from Persia, China, and Egypt that describe the benefits of exercise movement and massage for ailments.
Fun Fact #2
Physical therapy began as a female only profession. The very first professional physical therapy association was formed in 1921 in response to World War I. It was often referred to as a women’s health profession. Today, the organization is called the American Physical Therapy Association and has more than a hundred thousand members.
Fun Fact #3
Physical therapy can save patients money. According to research, patients who sought physical therapy for their low back pain saw an average of a 72% decrease in the cost compared to those who did not seek treatment in their first year. Catching any kind of persistent pain, no matter what it is, and working with a physical therapist like myself, could save you a lot of money down the road on surgical bills, medications, or any other type of treatment.
Fun Fact #4
Physical therapists can treat vertigo. Do you know when you stand up too fast and feel lightheaded or dizzy? That is positional vertigo. It is caused by a dysfunction of the vestibular system in the inner ear. One session with a physical therapist can successfully treat the annoying sensation.
Fun Fact #5
Physical therapy comes in many forms. No matter what kind of pain — from our head to our toe and everything in the middle — no matter what is weighing you down, we have a specialist that has your back — literally. Specialties can include orthopedic acute care, postoperative care, cardiovascular, and many, many more.
If you have persisting pain and aren’t sure if you should see a physical therapist or not, give us a call and we can help you make a decision confidently. Thanks for watching and see you next time.
