WHAT IS A PHYSICAL DISABILITY?

INSIGHTS FROM THE UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION

Physical therapy clinics, often like fitness gymnasiums, are designed for a wide range of exercises, manual therapy, mechanical devices, and stations for heat, cold, electricity, sound waves, and radiation treatment.

PTs also can help a person adjust to using a prosthesis or assistive mobility device.

The goal is to minimize loss of mobility via specific treatment, fitness and wellness programs tailored to the person’s condition, age, goals, etc.

People with physical disabilities also benefit from an occupational therapist.

This is similar, but instead of a fitness center, the clinic is set up like a workplace – an office, industrial or other setting.

OTs retrain people with physical disabilities to return to their jobs via new approaches to doing physical labor or with assistive devices.

OTs also train people with physical disabilities for an entirely new career, should their disability preclude their reassuming their prior job duties.

Many of United Spinal Association’s Rehabilitation & Therapeutic members provide PT, OT, and other invaluable services for people with physical disabilities.