The Role of Physical Therapy in Orthopedic Medicine

Abstract

Physical therapy is integral part of the health care system today nationally and internationally but most part of the world it is not yet a developed profession but a cluster of some modalities and manual skills. Internationally physical therapy is now considered to be independent profession declared by the world confederation for physical therapy (WCPT)  and WHO. In most of the developed countries today patients have fully or partially direct access to physical therapy services. It is also very important to know the education level or entry level degree program in physical therapy, which is a 17 years of schooling approved by HE and the curriculum comprises of extensively basic science, medical and clinical sciences so the physical therapist today has the capabilities to assess and treat movement dysfunctions either due to diseases, injuries, ageing process or natural disaster.The efficacy of physical therapy interventions has been proved in many areas with limitations but in orthopedic Medicine the role of physical therapy is very crucial. In physical therapy the main focus is on biomechanics and ergonomics, e.g. how different movements can be initiated by skeletal muscles and bones around different axis and planes while the stability and coordination will be ensured because any loss of movement or deviation from its physiological axis will result in the loss of functional activities.