Explain physical therapy to me

[TheSiege]

I am watching breaking bad and hank is going through PT. My question is, how does it work. I mean he has the muscle, what exactly does PT do? are the communication connections in the body severed and the only way to regain them is "learning" how to walk again?

 

[Newbian]

How long was he in bed for as I don't remember for when people are in it for long enough because of a injury they need it to regain the ability to walk?

 

[TheSiege]

so because of atrophy?

 

[n7]

When i broke my arm, i had seven free sessions where they'd have me perform various exercises to help me regain movement/muscle/strength as i lost it all from doing nothing with it for two months in a cast.

Even just being given a list of things i could do at home or whenever i had time was good.

 

[disappoint]

so because of atrophy?

This. Rebuilding muscle after extended non-use and atrophy.

I am watching breaking bad and hank is going through PT. My question is, how does it work. I mean he has the muscle, what exactly does PT do? are the communication connections in the body severed and the only way to regain them is "learning" how to walk again?

You mean an actor playing the part didn't actually have atrophy? You don't say. I thought everything in the movies was real and not, fiction. #MindBlown

 

[rudeguy]

I still cringe thinking about going though PT after I messed up my knee in high school.


"Just tell me when it hurts. We'll stop"
"Ok..ok...it hurts"
"JUST THREE MORE REPS!"

I hated that bitch.

 

[Zeze]

I am watching breaking bad and hank is going through PT. My question is, how does it work. I mean he has the muscle, what exactly does PT do? are the communication connections in the body severed and the only way to regain them is "learning" how to walk again?

Unlike the legitimacy of chiropractors, no one disputes the wonders of PT.

PT allows you to regain lost muscle strength and re-'wake up' nerves.

You see lots of stroke victims or accidents that recover movement through PT.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Are they just glorified personal trainers? I have no doubts pt works. I have pt myself after some pretty serious injuries and it worked. I have had an ankle that was in horrible shape after a work accident. It took about a year for it to feel right and to get my explosiveness back in it. I just watched various YouTube vids and read up on different exercises to regain the strength and support my ankle needed. It literally feels 99% of what it was. And for a while I wondered if I'd just be gimped and not be able to really compete with the youngsters at basketball. Turns out I'm still a gifted physical specimen.

 

[Zeze]

Are they just glorified personal trainers? I have no doubts pt works. I have pt myself after some pretty serious injuries and it worked. I have had an ankle that was in horrible shape after a work accident. It took about a year for it to feel right and to get my explosiveness back in it. I just watched various YouTube vids and read up on different exercises to regain the strength and support my ankle needed. It literally feels 99% of what it was. And for a while I wondered if I'd just be gimped and not be able to really compete with the youngsters at basketball. Turns out I'm still a gifted physical specimen.

A friend's boyfriend is a PT. He went to a 4-year college for it and makes 60k~.

I'm sure they're far more 'legit' than personal trainers.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

A friend's boyfriend is a PT. He went to a 4-year college for it and makes 60k~.

I'm sure they're far more 'legit' than personal trainers.

How so? I pt'ed myself just fine. All I could see needing is the doctor telling me everything is structurally sound and I could figure out the rest. I don't see how having someone in the middle (physical therapist) that can't feel how my body feels would be needed.

 

[Zeze]

How so? I pt'ed myself just fine. All I could see needing is the doctor telling me everything is structurally sound and I could figure out the rest. I don't see how having someone in the middle (physical therapist) that can't feel how my body feels would be needed.

Don't tell me how you did fine. I'm just talking about the industry and what I've observed.

Wow, they make more than I thought, and they actually go to lots of school (bachelor + additional):

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm

 

[ichy]

For more complex stuff physical therapists seem pretty legit. I was really glad that I went to see one after I broke my shoulder since I wouldn't have known the appropriate way to get back a normal range of motion on my own. I also saw a PT after I broke my ankle and that felt like a waste of money. Everything they had me do I could have easily done on my own.

The education requirements for physical therapists are somewhat inflated. It used to be a master's level program, now you have to get a "doctorate" in physical therapy. The education requirements for a DPT are in no way comparable to a real professional doctorate such as an MD or PharmD.

 

[Miramonti]

PT's help regain and improve flexibility, range of motion, strength in injured and scarred areas, neurological response, balance, coordination...among other things. A good PT is worth their weight in gold.

 

[waggy]

PT's are hit or miss. the one guy i have seen for things was great. after i has surgery on my shoulder he helped me get full motion and build up the strength. he also did it in a way that didn't hurt (much).

he moved a year ago. so when my daughter broke her ankle and the PT (first one) was bad. The 2nd time she broke it we were recommended a lady who was a gymnist and had kids on my daughters team. she was great (and cute)


as jssole said a good one is amazing. but in my experience (and i have far to much) they are rare. most seem like scam artist. I am going to a place now for my shoulder (same one. been 7 years since the surgery) and all she did was give me a tens unit and some exercises. i swear i'm in more pain then i started with.

 

[olds]

They know the anatomy and how muscles are connected and work together. So they are able to target specific muscles to aid in rehab.

My son went to US Davis and became a PT. He didn't like it and is now a CHP officer.

 

[NutBucket]

I still cringe thinking about going though PT after I messed up my knee in high school.


"Just tell me when it hurts. We'll stop"
"Ok..ok...it hurts"
"JUST THREE MORE REPS!"

I hated that bitch.

My wife hates weenies like you. No pain, no gain 😛

The DPT thing is kinda dumb imho. According to my wife, the only difference between a MPT and DPT is the ability to prescribe drugs. The coursework as far as the therapy portion is the same.

 

[olds]

My wife hates weenies like you. No pain, no gain 😛

The DPT thing is kinda dumb imho. According to my wife, the only difference between a MPT and DPT is the ability to prescribe drugs. The coursework as far as the therapy portion is the same.

Maybe I had your wife for my knee PT...

She was a looker with nice boobs. She'd place my foot between her boobs to give resistance as I pushed to strengthen my knee.
At 19 years old, it was all I could do to not pitch a tent right there on the table in front of her.

 

[CPA]

The one thing PT does is push you beyond what you would do if you tried to recover yourself. plus, the PT's are able to do things you just can't do by yourself. I had a shoulder impingement that just wouldn't go away with rest or a cortisone shot. 3 weeks (2 sessions a week) of PT and bam! I'm as good as new. As much as it sucks, it works.

 

[kranky]

I have two family members who needed rotator cuff surgery. One did PT for 4 months and the other quit after 2 weeks because it hurt too much. The one who quit early cannot lift his upper arm higher than his shoulder and the other has complete range of motion and full strength.

 

[mikegg]

Dad just had knee replacement. He needed PT to straighten his leg and be able to bend his knee again.

Yea... it's important.

 

[olds]

I have two family members who needed rotator cuff surgery. One did PT for 4 months and the other quit after 2 weeks because it hurt too much. The one who quit early cannot lift his upper arm higher than his shoulder and the other has complete range of motion and full strength.

Going through this now. I didn't want the surgery so I did PT. I am at 75%. I can lift over my shoulder but I have to hold heavy objects next to my body and I can't sleep on my right side or it severely aggravates my shoulder.

 

[Platypus]

I had to go through a large series of PT sessions as a kid because 90% of my feet were burned to the third degree and I didn't walk on them for months. It's a strange sensation trying to relearn how to walk.

 

[ichy]

The DPT thing is kinda dumb imho. According to my wife, the only difference between a MPT and DPT is the ability to prescribe drugs.

Huh? I've never heard of DPTs being able to prescribe drugs in the US.

 

[NutBucket]

Hmm, I may have misunderstood. However, I do know that my wife's alma mater "converted" to a DPT program and that the additional coursework is mainly in the area of drugs.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

They don't do anything magical, if you knew what exercises to do you wouldn't really need one. They help you recover from injuries and illnesses (like strokes and stuff) where you've lost the ability to do something because of loss of muscle tone or nerve damage. But yeah, physiotherapy is pretty important.