FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS PHYSICAL THERAPY (PT)?
Physical Therapy or PT is a health service that helps people with a need to improve, maintain or restore their function in their daily activities. Aging, accidents and illnesses could limit our movement. PT can help in such situations. Only licensed professionals can provide this service.
WHAT HAPPENS IN A PT SESSION?
A PT session usually lasts for an hour. It starts with an assessment of our body segments, posture and movements. These findings relate to other information about your condition such as other illnesses, home and work demands, and lifestyle. Based on these, your therapist will design a personalized treatment plan. These are the strategies that will be used to solve the problems identified in the assessment. Cold or warm compress may be recommended during, before or after the sessions as needed. Exercises that strengthen or stretch muscles are a vital part of the sessions and should be expected. You will get to practice movements that you struggle with. Overall, these will make your daily life easier. A home exercise program will be crafted for you will to speed up your recovery. We will be counting on you to do your part on the days without PT sessions. You will be well soon, if you work with us!
WHO NEEDS PT ?
Anyone with movement limitations can be benefit from PT. There are children born with Down Syndrome (DS) and Cerebral Palsy (CP) who show delay in learning movements compared to other children. People who had a stroke sometimes find it challenging to move half of their body. Athletes who have been injured and anyone who exercises or plays sports need to return to their sport or hobby as soon as possible. Even the simple back and neck pain due to prolonged work in front of the computer can be limiting to the regular office worker working from home or not. Patients who have undergone heart or joint replacement surgery need to be guided to return to normal daily life. Adults with arthritic conditions also need support to move well. People who are recovering from CoVid-19 can benefit from guided breathing and movement. In all of these cases and more, physical therapy can help people get well.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "HILOT", CHIROPRACTOR OR MYOTHERAPY?
In Philippine culture, we usually have a "hilot" or traditional healer in the community. We respect them as an integral part of our society since time immemorial. However, difference of those who have attended a formal university course for five years is the science-based knowledge that is standardized worldwide. After training in various hospitals and clinics before graduation, PTs also pass a board examination through the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to secure a license to practice. Every PT has to renew his/her license every two years.
Chiropractors and Myotherapists have their own learning and training methodology that focuses on fixing bones and muscles in an instant. We respect their school of thought as this approach works for some people.
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PTs work closely with physicians/doctors. All aspects of the patient’s life such as posture, movements, lifestyle, home and work demands, other medical conditions, etc. are taken into account in designing an individualized treatment plan for every patient. We treat every patient as a unique individual with a different background, personality and goals. PTs also promote gradual adaptation of healthy habits leading up to lifestyle change for longevity.
DO I NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR BEFORE A PT?
Yes. Under the Philippine law, before we can engage in PT, we must first secure a doctor's referral. The Philippine Physical Therapy Association (PPTA) has been working on revising this law for a number of years now.
IS IT THE SAME AS PHYSIOTHERAPY?
Yes. "Physiotherapy" or "physio" is the term for PT more commonly used in countries such as the UK, Australia and Europe. They are the same.
IS ONLINE PT OR TELEREHAB EFFECTIVE?
Absolutely! The whole world had to adjust to the pandemic, that includes our hands-on profession. We have learned to capitalize on the use the technology to still deliver the services mentioned in creative ways while waiting for the chance to meet in person. It has been proven all over the world that telemedicine, of which telerehab is a part, is truly effective! If you need proof, send us a query and we will be more than happy to send some helpful resources. Below is a sample video of one of our PTs conducting Telerehab for an older client. Enjoy!