Editing Physical therapy (section)

==Overview==
Physical [[therapy]] addresses the [[illnesses]] or injuries that limit a person's abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives.<ref>{{cite web |title=Occupational Outlook Handbook - Physical Therapists |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm |website=bls.gov |access-date=30 August 2021}}</ref> PTs use an individual's [[Medical history|history]] and [[physical examination]] to arrive at a [[medical diagnosis|diagnosis]] and establish a management plan and, when necessary, incorporate the results of laboratory and imaging studies like X-rays, CT-scan, or MRI findings. Physical therapists can use [[sonography]] to diagnose and manage common musculoskeletal, nerve, and pulmonary conditions.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Diagnostic and procedural imaging in physical therapist practice | url=https://www.orthopt.org/uploads/content_files/files/DxProcImagPhysTherPractice_FINAL%281%29.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028101158/https://www.orthopt.org/uploads/content_files/files/DxProcImagPhysTherPractice_FINAL%281%29.pdf | archive-date=2021-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Vieira |first1=Rui |last2=Segura-Grau |first2=Elena |last3=Magalhães |first3=Juliana |last4=dos Santos |first4=Joseph |last5=Patrão |first5=Luís |title=Lung ultrasound as a tool to guide respiratory physiotherapy |journal=Journal of Clinical Ultrasound |date=September 2020 |volume=48 |issue=7 |pages=431–434 |doi=10.1002/jcu.22860|pmid=32497252 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.apca.org/certifications-examinations/Registered-in-Musculoskeletal-Sonography/ | title=Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Certification – RMSK }}</ref> Electrodiagnostic testing (e.g., [[electromyograms]] and nerve conduction velocity testing) may also be used.<ref name="evalGuidelinesAPTA">{{cite web|author=American Physical Therapy Association Section on Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management |url=http://www.aptasce-wm.org/documents/guidelines/ENMG%20EvaluationGuidelines.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904055829/http://www.aptasce-wm.org/documents/guidelines/ENMG%20EvaluationGuidelines.pdf|archive-date=4 September 2011|url-status=dead |title=Curriculum Content Guidelines for Electrophysiologic Evaluation|publisher=American Physical Therapy Association|work=Educational Guidelines|access-date=29 May 2008}}</ref>

PT ''management'' commonly includes prescription of or assistance with specific exercises, [[manual therapy]], and manipulation, mechanical devices such as traction, [[education]], electrophysical modalities which include heat, cold, electricity, sound waves, radiation, assistive devices, prostheses, orthoses, and other interventions. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles, providing services to individuals and populations to develop, maintain, and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. This includes providing treatment in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by aging, injury, disease, or environmental factors. Functional movement is central to what it means to be [[healthy]].<ref>{{Citation |title=In brief: Physical therapy |date=2024-03-19 |work=InformedHealth.org [Internet] |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK561514/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |publisher=Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) |language=en}}</ref>

Physical therapy is a professional career that has many specialties including [[musculoskeletal]], [[orthopedics]], [[cardiopulmonary]], [[neurology]], [[endocrinology]], [[sports medicine]], [[geriatrics]], [[pediatrics]], [[women's health]], [[wound care]] and [[electromyography]]. [[Neurological rehabilitation]] is, in particular, a rapidly emerging field. PTs practice in many settings, such as privately-owned physical therapy clinics, [[outpatient clinic]]s or offices, health and wellness clinics, [[rehabilitation hospital]] facilities, skilled nursing facilities, extended care facilities, private homes, education and research centers, [[schools]], [[hospices]], industrial and these workplaces or other occupational environments, [[health club|fitness centers]] and [[sports training]] facilities.<ref name="APTA_1/17/2008">{{cite web|author=American Physical Therapy Association |title=APTA Background Sheet 2008 |publisher=American Physical Therapy Association |date=17 January 2008 |url=http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Physical_Therapy&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=33205 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529180223/http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Physical_Therapy&TEMPLATE=%2FCM%2FHTMLDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=33205 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 May 2008 |access-date=29 May 2008}}</ref>

Physical therapists also practice in non-patient care roles such as health policy,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/topics/health_policy/en/ |title=Health policy implications for patient education in physical therapy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110324161029/http://www.who.int/topics/health_policy/en/ |archive-date=24 March 2011 }}</ref><ref>Initiatives in Rehabilitation Research, {{cite web |url=http://ptjournal.apta.org/cgi/content/full/86/1/141 |title=Physical Therapy &#124; Oxford Academic |access-date=2010-09-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130223105653/http://ptjournal.apta.org/cgi/content/full/86/1/141 |archive-date=23 February 2013}}</ref> health insurance, health care administration and as health care executives. Physical therapists are involved in the medical-legal field serving as experts, performing peer review and [[independent medical examination]]s.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/470/470mass784.html | title=ORTIZ vs. EXAMWORKS, INC., 470 Mass. 784 }}</ref>

Education varies greatly by country. The span of education ranges from some countries having little formal education to others having doctoral degrees and post-doctoral residencies and fellowships.<ref name="Jesus_2016">{{cite journal |last1=Jesus |first1=Tiago S. |last2=Koh |first2=Gerald |last3=Landry |first3=Michel |last4=Ong |first4=Peck-Hoon |last5=Lopes |first5=Antonio |last6=Green |first6=Peter L. |last7=Hoenig |first7=Helen  |date=October 2016 |title=Finding the "Right-Size" Physical Therapy Workforce: International Perspective Across 4 Countries |journal=Physical Therapy |volume=96 |issue=10 |pages=1597–1609 |doi=10.2522/ptj.20160014 |pmid=27149960 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Regarding its relationship to other healthcare professions, physiotherapy is one of the [[allied health professions]].<!-- Due to long-term, persistent, vandalism of the "allied health" mention, it is necessary to provide several good RS, so don't delete them or change the wording. Indian editors should look at [[Talk:Physical therapy#India classifies Physiotherapy as an allied health profession]]. --><ref name="ASAHP_def">{{cite web |url=http://www.asahp.org/what-is/ |title=What is Allied Health? |publisher=Association of Schools of Allied Health Professionals |access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/204786/B3429.pdf| title = Allied Health (Paramedical) Services and Education}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/allied-health-professionals| title = Allied Health Professionals}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| url = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK218850/| title = What Does "Allied Health" Mean?| year = 1989| publisher = National Academies Press (US)}}</ref> [[World Physiotherapy]] has signed a "memorandum of understanding" with the four other members of the [[World Health Professions Alliance]] "to enhance their joint collaboration on protecting and investing in the health workforce to provide safe, quality and equitable care in all settings".<ref name="WHO_11/7/2022">{{cite web | title=WHO, members of the World Health Professions Alliance sign new memorandum of understanding on health workforce priorities | website=[[World Health Organization]] | date=November 7, 2022 | url=https://www.who.int/news/item/07-11-2022-WHO_WHPA_MOU | access-date=January 13, 2024}}</ref>