Physical Therapy: Key Concepts, Roles, and Practice Frameworks

Patient

An individual with a disorder who requires physical therapy interventions to improve function.

Client

An individual seeking PT services to maintain health or a business seeking PT consultation.

Physical Therapy

A healthcare profession that restores movement, improves function, prevents injury, and promotes health.

State Practice Act

State law that regulates physical therapy practice.

APTA

American Physical Therapy Association.

Scope of Practice

Activities a PT or PTA is legally educated and authorized to perform.

PTA

Physical Therapist Assistant who provides selected PT interventions under the direction of a PT.

Plan of Care (POC)

The treatment plan established by the physical therapist.

PTA Can

Provide patient care, modify treatment techniques within the POC, perform selected tests and measures, respond to acute physiological changes.

PTA Cannot

Interpret referrals, perform evaluations, initiate treatment, plan patient care, or perform duties requiring PT education.

Supervision

PTAs work under the direction and supervision of a licensed PT.

Primary Care

Healthcare that meets most of a person's routine health needs.

Secondary Care

Referral-based healthcare; most physical therapy services occur here.

Tertiary Care

Specialized care for complex or long-term conditions.

Direct Access

Ability to receive physical therapy without a physician referral.

Interprofessional Care

PTs and PTAs collaborate with physicians, nurses, OTs, SLPs, social workers, and other healthcare professionals.

Prevention

Services that prevent pain, injury, or dysfunction.

Screen

Determines whether further healthcare services are needed.

Health Promotion

Programs that improve health and reduce disease risk.

Ergonomic Evaluation

Assessment of work environments to reduce injury.

Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)

Test that determines a person's ability to perform work tasks.

Patient/Client Management Model

The process PTs use to examine, evaluate, diagnose, plan, treat, and assess outcomes.

Informed Consent

Patient understands and agrees to treatment after risks, benefits, and alternatives are explained.

Examination

Collection of patient history, systems review, tests, and measures.

Evaluation

Clinical judgment based on examination findings.

Diagnosis

Classification of findings from the examination.

Prognosis

Predicted level of improvement and expected time to achieve goals.

Intervention

Treatments performed by PTs and PTAs.

Outcome

Result of the intervention and plan of care.

SOAP Note

Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan.

Subjective

Information reported by the patient.

Objective

Measurable findings collected by the clinician.

Assessment

Clinical interpretation of the patient's status.

Plan

Future treatment strategy.

Communication

Ensures everyone involved in patient care knows the patient's status.

Direct Intervention

Therapeutic interaction between the PT/PTA and patient.

Therapeutic Exercise

Exercises used to improve movement, strength, flexibility, or function.

Manual Therapy

Hands-on treatment techniques.

Motor Function Training

Activities that improve movement control.

Patient Education

Teaching patients and families about care and home exercise.

Consultation

Providing expert advice without direct intervention.

Evidence-Based Practice

Using the best research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values in treatment.

Critical Inquiry

Questioning why interventions are used and evaluating evidence.

Administration

Managing staff, budgets, planning, communication, and operations.

Case Manager

Coordinates healthcare services for patients.

Mary McMillan

Considered the first physical therapist in the United States.

Reconstruction Aides

Forerunners of the PT profession during World War I.

American Women's Physical Therapeutic Association

Founded in 1921; later became APTA.

Polio Epidemics

Greatly increased the need for physical therapy in the early 1900s.

World War I

Helped establish physical therapy in the United States.

World War II

Further increased demand for physical therapists.

CAPTE

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

Vision 2020

APTA initiative promoting autonomous practice, DPT education, direct access, evidence-based practice, professionalism, and practitioner of choice.

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Entry-level degree for physical therapists.

ICF

International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.

ICF Body Functions and Structures

Physiological functions and anatomical parts.

ICF Activities

Execution of tasks by an individual.

ICF Participation

Involvement in life situations.

Biopsychosocial Model

Health depends on biological, psychological, and social factors.

Enablement

Process of improving function and participation.

Disablement

Process in which health conditions limit function and participation.

WHO Definition of Health

A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease.

Private Practice Outpatient

Most common employment setting for PTs.

Acute Care Hospital

Hospital setting treating patients with serious illness or injury.

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)

Provides rehabilitation and nursing care for patients needing extended recovery.

Home Health

Physical therapy services provided in the patient's home.

Inpatient Rehabilitation

Intensive rehabilitation for patients recovering from serious conditions.