Physical Therapy Schools|Benefits Of Massage Therapy Schools

Physical therapists help patients manage and recover from debilitating physical conditions that leaves them unable to function normally. The purpose of physical therapy is to help people who have conditions that limit their ability to function in their daily activities. A physical therapist uses many techniques and devices to assist clients with recovering physical strength and range of motion, improving mobility of injured body parts, managing pain, improving posture, and managing physically debilitating conditions. Conditions patients normally suffer can be the result of an injury, illness, or chronic disease such as diabetes. Therapeutic equipment can include ultraviolet and infrared lamps, EMS machines, whirlpool baths, and ultrasonic machines.

Physical therapy consists of a therapist assessing a patient's ability to function, monitoring motor function, improving balance and coordination, increasing muscle strength, improving range of motion, creating treatment plans for the rehabilitation facility as well as at home, and recording a patient's progress. They also instruct patients on how to use therapeutic medical devices such as canes and crutches, wheelchairs, braces, artificial limbs...etc.

Many people are not sure if they are in need of physical therapy. Physical therapy can be used for all neuromuscular or musculoskeletal dysfunctions. If you have any of the following conditions, you may require physical therapy:

Sports Related Injuries: Sports or exercise injuries can be the result of training mishaps, incorrect warm up methods, trauma from a fall or other accident resulting in a physical injury.

Chronic Diseases such as Arthritis and Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis occurs when the joint cartilage covering the ends of the bone wears away. Arthritis means inflammation of the joints. There is distinct pain and difficulty moving with these conditions.

Surgery Issues: One may require muscle conditioning and strengthening before or after surgery.

Chronic Fatigue and Pain: An example would be a Fibromyalgia diagnosis. Fibromyalgia is an aching condition characterized by extensive soft tissue pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and regions of tenderness in the body.

Balance or Mobility Problems: This problem can result from a head injury, brain condition, or trauma resulting from an accident.

Sprains and Muscle Injuries: These injuries can result from slip and fall accidents, repetitive motion injuries, and other incidents causing a physical injury. This can include such injured areas as the arms, shoulder, knees, feet, ankles, hand and wrist problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis. Neck pain is also an area that can be treated with physical therapy.

Lower Back Pain: This can result from muscle strains, ligament strains, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, osteoporosis, Fibromyalgia and more.

Abdominal Pressure causing Incontinence or Bowel Problems: Special physical therapy techniques can be used to strengthen the pelvic muscles.

Neuro-Rehabilitation: Physical therapy techniques are used after such incidents as a stroke, spinal cord injury, or head injury.

Physical therapy uses non-invasive techniques and devices to promote healing and restore function. It also focuses on health, fitness, and overall well being.

Because of an increased aging population, more people playing extreme sports, and an increased number of people enrolling in fitness clubs, physical therapists are in great demand. Most people can benefit from physical therapy, so it is important to discuss this method of rehabilitation with your doctor.

There are many benefits to children's massages. Children's massages can calm a child down. Children's massages can also wake a child's body up so he or she can function better when needed such as at school. If your child has any special needs, you can suggest he or she gets a massage by one of the teachers, teacher's aides or occupational therapist before going to any of his/her classes. If your child has an IEP known as an individualized educational plan you can have the massages listed in the plan as part of the daily routine. The school must follow your IEP as it is the law.

Many times children are stressed out and as adults we only think grown-ups have stress. Think about your child going to a new school for the first time. Think about how your child feels entering a new year in school. He or she may even share with you how nervous he/she is. Your child having problems with his or her homework that may be stressing out him or her. Frequent massages can help to deter all of this wasted stress.

Another one of the benefits of children's massage is that it has a direct correlation between stress and the immune system. When your child is stressed out, the stress hormones become elevated. When the stress hormones are elevated they will kill the healthy immune cells that fight off viruses as well as tumors and keep the immune system healthy. You want to keep this stress level down so that your child's body will heal and maintain to keep it as healthy as possible.

If your child has had surgery as an infant, he or she will truly benefit from massage. As an infant your child learned that touch means pain. With massage you can turn that association around by doing massaging and make it a positive experience.

When you do give your infant a massage you may even be helping to develop the nervous system as well as the brain. You are improving your child's circulation, respiration, digestion and elimination. You can even help your infant become less prone to colic which can be miserable for your baby and anyone living in your household.

If you are starting to massage your infant you only need to glide your fingers across the baby. As your child matures you can add more massaging techniques and include the hands, feet, etc.

If your child is a teen and has never had a massage, he or she most likely would rather have a certified massage therapist give him/her the massage than you as a parent. Teens just feel more comfortable having the massage therapist perform the massage. Your teen will benefit from massages. He or she will be happier, more relaxed and calm.

Keep your child(ren)'s massages a routine. You will notice your child napping better, sleeping better at night, less hyperactivity and even improving in schoolwork and tests. There are so many benefits to children's massage. It is never too early to start.

Neck is one of the most flexible organs of the body that has a great deal of functionality. It is quite susceptible to injuries, because it is subjected to a lot of stress and weight and to a certain extent because of its flexibility. Neck pain is usually caused by the stress, misuse, overuse, poor posture, accident or a sport injury. Neck pain is one of the most common complaints that may become a constant problem if remain untreated and ignored. In holistic medicine, massage therapy is considered as the most significant natural treatment that helps provide effective pain management. In this article I will discuss the role of massage therapy in dealing with neck pain.

Massage Therapy - A Natural Way of Pain Management

Massage therapy is the natural way of treating neck pain. It is a profound and non-invasive holistic approach that is effective for people of all age group. It not only provides pain relief and management, but also decelerates the progression of neck problems. All neck problems including injuries require immediate assistance of a health care practitioner, because damaged muscles, ligaments and nerves may lead to a serious condition called osteoarthritis. Furthermore, neck injuries that occur due to accidents can lead to more severe neck problems including whiplash, herniated disc, fracture, pinched nerve and paralysis.

How Massages Help Relieve Pain?

Highly contracted muscles and poor blood flow to the neck are the main reasons of various neck problems. A professional massage therapist uses method of mind/body integration and various hands-on-techniques to generate feeling of frothiness that gently relieves pain. A massage therapist provides small body movements and a gentle touch that effectively relaxes muscles and connective tissues and improves blood circulation to the affected areas.

Types of Massages for Neck Pain Relief

In holistic medicine there are several types of massages available that can be performed by an experienced massage therapist to help relieve neck pain. Some of them are:

1. Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is especially intended to reduce severe tension in the muscles and connective tissues. A professional massage therapist applies an intense, focused and hard pressure to release the sustained deep pressure from the neck and upper back.

2. Shiatsu Massage

In this type of Japanese hands-on-therapy, a massage therapist applies pressure to the affected area of the body by using his fingers and palm in order to correct the imbalance of the body and promote sense of well-being.

3. Swedish Massage

Swedish massage includes a variety of manual therapies that help release muscle tension and provides relief from neck pain.

4. Trigger Point Therapy

In trigger point therapy, manual pressure, vibration or some other treatment is applied by the massage therapist to alleviate myofascial pain from the affected body area. This manual therapy effectively enhances blood flow to the damaged areas, releases neck muscle spasms and promotes the natural healing process.

There are various other types of massages that significantly release muscle tension and help provide neck pain relief. A certified and licensed massage therapist can better analyze the severity of the condition and recommend the particular type of massage therapy that will be suitable to fix the condition and promote health. Regular exercises and good posture i.e. aligned spine position are also recommended to decrease the neck pain.

If you are recovering from an injury or surgery you may have to undergo physical therapy rehabilitation. If you have been in an accident and suffered neck, back or leg injuries that required surgery you most likely will need therapy to regain flexibility, strength, coordination and reduce pain. As with any medical appointment the first visit to a physical therapist can cause anxiety and nervousness but if you prepare properly and know what to expect you can make your visit a comfortable experience that will get you on the road to recovery.

The best way to prepare for a physical therapy appointment is to know what to expect. Chances are you are undergoing rehabilitation as part of a recovery program and will have been referred to a physical therapist by your primary care physician. It doesn't hurt to search online for information about the therapist and the practice to read reviews from former patients who can give you insight into how their sessions went. The goal of most first sessions is to give the patient a physical evaluation and determine goals for treatment. A therapist will likely want to check your flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, posture and heart rate before beginning any program.

In addition to the evaluation a therapist will want to review your medical history including the recent injury or surgery. Be ready for this by listing any and all injuries and surgeries you have had in your life as well as any serious illnesses, recurring problems and debilitating conditions. Also tell the physical therapist about any medications you may be taking or have taken in the past. The more information the therapist has about your medical history the better he or she can map out a rehabilitation program that will take into account problems you have had.

Depending on your condition you may start therapy right away so it always good to prepare by wearing loose fitting clothing that is comfortable to perform exercises in. The initial treatment won't be strenuous but your therapist may want to assess the amount of pain and swelling in a particular area and see how you react to treatment. If your injury is severe a therapist may need to fit you for special equipment including footwear, splints and crutches. Part of physical therapy is educating the patient on how to perform exercises at home so you can transfer the skills you learn to your daily life. Approach your first physical therapy session with an open mind and be prepared to learn since rehabilitation is an ongoing process that continues outside of the clinic.

It doesn't matter if you have completed a master or doctor of physical therapy, you must pass the NPTE to become a fully qualified and licensed practitioner. The NPTE is given by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) and is designed to determine if you have the minimum required knowledge to safely practice physical therapy. If you don't pass the NPTE you can't practice, so here is what you need to do to make it easy.

STEP 1: Familiarize Yourself: The NPTE is a 5 hour computer based exam that consists of 5 sections, each containing 50 multiple choice questions. You are marked on how many questions you answer correctly and do not get penalized if you answer incorrectly. To pass you will need to score more than 600 out of a possible 800. If you fail you can retake the exam 3 times in a 12 month period. You can find all this information in detail through the Candidate Hand Book.

STEP 2: Register: Contact the licensing authority in the state or jurisdiction in which you want to practise then go to the FSBPT website to register. There are deadlines for application and set dates to take the exam, so be sure to check the dates.

STEP 3: Study: There are plenty of study guides available with tips on how to pass the NPTE. The most trusted and comprehensive guide is The 2012 National Physical Therapy Examination: Review & Study Guide, by S. O'Sullivan and R. Siegelman. For $85 you get 3 simulated exams on CD as well as study strategies and state licensure information. Another option is the Practice Exam and Assessment Tool (PEAT) that consists of 200 example questions identical to those you will expect to see in the NPTE. It also has built in features that allow you to get immediate scoring, performance reports, explanations and rationales for each question. You can have online access for 30 days at a cost of $90. If you need longer, then another $45 will get you a further 15 days.

STEP 4: Pass the NPTE: You can sit the NPTE at any of the 600 PROMETRIC testing centers located across America and it doesn't matter if it is in a different jurisdiction. As long as you have nominated in your application what jurisdiction you want to practice in you can sit it anywhere. You will need to call them to book your seat.

So there you have it. To pass the NPTE all you have to do is follow these simple steps so you will be well prepared to finally practice as a physical therapist.

There are several types of massages and one of them is called holistic massage. This type is focused on creating an effect to the human body as a whole. Aside from relieving you of physical pains that you are experiencing, it will also make you feel emotionally relaxed and de-stressed.

Many people want to undergo a holistic type of massage in order to rejuvenate themselves from a stressful week at work or in home. As this offers not only physical but also total relaxation, it can become a very favorable type of massage for many people.

This may also be likened or related to touch therapy where another person's touch and warmth can calm the spirit and the mind as well as heal the physical body.

When you have a lot of tension in your muscles, a massage can effectively take care of that. When pressure is applied to your skin and the muscles underneath it, there will be an increase in the circulation within the blood vessels. Necessary nutrients and food for your cells will be effectively delivered making this a very good method. Furthermore, toxins from the body will be removed once proper circulation is started.

A more specific benefit of holistic massage includes a reduction of the anxiety levels that a person might be feeling. The tension from the muscles is removed and the emotional stress is likewise lessened. This measure can make it easier for you to face your problems as you might feel rejuvenated.

As there is an improvement in the circulation on the part of the body that was massaged, there are a few more benefits. The most common benefit of an improvement in the circulation is an increase in the body's energy levels. Related to this is an improvement in your mental functions. You are able to think in a clearer way. You can also be able to accomplish mental tasks more effectively and at a faster rate.

Anyone who undergoes massages may also experience an increase in flexibility of the body. You may be able to perform physical activities with more mobility compared to a time when you were not having any form of massage. In addition, an increase in the flexibility of the body can help prevent injuries to the muscles when exerted at a certain point.

Your breathing patterns may be affected as well. Some can have a deeper breathing which can be effective in maintaining proper oxygenation of the body. Some people might notice that their skin looks smoother. Lastly, many can get relaxing sleep.

Holistic massage is ideal for people of all ages. Not only individuals who are considered sick are encouraged to get regular massages. Even people who are healthy will benefit a lot. There are methods that can be used particularly for young children while there are those that are implemented for adults and older people.

Those who have existing muscle injuries also benefit from this massage. Athletes who want to strengthen their muscles or recover from injury may undergo this massage too.

Physical therapy clinics, outpatient centers and rehabilitation centers are difficult businesses to run, and the sheer volume of paperwork generated often leaves managers frustrated. Unfortunately, that frustration is often valid. Physical therapy clinics, regardless of their size, often suffer from inefficiency that leads to reduced profits. Having the right program in place can make a huge difference by increasing the effectiveness of your clinic and minimizing costs.

Let Your Physical Therapists Concentrate On Patients

Your therapists became physical therapists because they wanted to help people, not because they wanted to focus on paperwork. With detailed documentation options, tracking, automatic report generation and even printable pain guides, the right computer program can put your physical therapies back where they want to be -- with their patients. With detailed documents that are fully customizable, your employees can track patients efficiently from initial evaluations through discharge recommendations. Programs featuring electronic daily notes, scanned images and progress reports as well as standard evaluation templates mean enhanced consistency and accuracy and more time for actual patient care.

Attract Better Personnel

Today's therapists are coming out of schools where they've learned how to use the latest technologies, including physical therapy exercise and billing software programs. If you're still using paper records, metal file cabinets and archaic office machinery, you won't be able to recruit the best therapists. Using outdated methods can send the wrong message. Don't let prospective income generators walk away because they think your practice is behind the times. Using state-of-the-art PT software will let potential hires know you run a successful, profitable clinic.

Reduce Time And Space Spent On Documentation

No one enjoys filling out paperwork, and no clinic or practice can easily afford the extra cost of storing reams of data onsite or at an offsite location. But you have to keep those records somewhere, don't you? With the right record keeping package, all of your records can be streamlined and reduced to electronic files that are accessible at any time by your employees. This kind of billing software that's linked to patients' therapy notes reduces your paperwork even more by eliminating overlapping or duplicate records.

An integrated exercise program also means fewer scheduling mistakes and more efficient use of everyone's time. Efficient tracking, customized patient information forms and documentation software that allows your therapists to quickly record patient outcomes as they happen will all contribute to reduced errors along the way and do away with the need to constantly try and "catch up" on crucial paperwork. They'll spend more time helping their patients and less time tracking them.

Increase The Efficiency And Accuracy Of Billing With Physical Therapy Software

Physical therapy software that automatically records billable time when your physical therapists finish their therapy notes is highly efficient and drastically reduces missed time. Clinics without an accurate system in place often neglect or miscalculate billable hours, costing themselves thousands of dollars in lost time over the course of a year. Automatic aging and rebilling features can help you stay on top of outstanding invoices, and integrated insurance claims forms will result in fewer claims denials.

If your physical therapy business doesn't have a proven solution in place, it isn't maximizing profits for you or your employees. Explore the many physical therapy software solutions available now in order to maximize your profits in the future.

Find Programs in Massage Therapy in the United States and Canada. Healing arts schools offer a plethora of career training opportunities with programs in massage therapy being one of the more popular courses today.

As one of the fastest-growing careers today, massage therapists have the opportunity to earn well over $30 hourly with the right education and training, and experience. Quality programs in massage therapy can afford this rewarding prospect to those pursuing professions in bodywork.

Standard training programs in massage therapy range between 300 and 500 hours. (A number of massage courses may exceed this time frame.) Typical subject matter involves education in anatomy, pathology, physiology, massage theory, communication skills, CPR and first aid, and kinesiology. Depending in which one of the many programs in massage therapy you choose to enroll, massage techniques and modalities may vary. Common modalities include hands-on instruction in Swedish massage, sports massage and deep tissue therapy.

More advanced programs in massage therapy entail diverse training in a wide assortment of bodywork methods like acupressure, Chinese medical massage, infant and prenatal massage, animal massage, geriatric massage, craniosacral therapy, Trager therapy, Trigger Point, esalen massage, Lomi Lomi, chair/seated massage, Indian head massage, cancer massage, and myofascial release, among many others.

Besides classroom experience, many programs in massage therapy offer real-world clinical training on clients under direct supervision of a qualified instructor. Upon successful completion of all required coursework, graduates earn a certificate or diploma of completion; and in some cases, may be eligible to sit for the National Certification exam through the NCTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork). National massage certification, however, can only be achieved by those students who have completed a minimum of 500 hours in any one of several accredited programs in massage therapy.

Graduates of programs in massage therapy who have become certified and/or licensed to become practicing massage therapists earn the personal satisfaction in having the natural health skills to help in healing patients. Some of the many benefits of massage therapy include back pain relief, blood pressure reduction, stress and tension relief, migraine relief, and relief of many other chronic health conditions and diseases.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding programs in massage therapy, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

*Occupational Resources: BLS (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Programs in Massage Therapy - Healing Arts Today
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When we are in pain of any type, or other problems take place with the body, such as decreased range of motion, the first and most critical thing to accomplish is to assess via the use of a physician or other health care professional why that pain is taking place. This is often done using MRI or X-ray to find the problem and other means by which to correct it.

Determining a way to deal with the pain and the underlying causative factor is imperative. If your pain is due to the aging process or to an accident, or even from simple stressing of muscle groups, treating your injury or disease process may involve the use of another type of health care provider who is a motion specialist.

Physical therapy providers are well-versed in helping you to get the best range of motion that you can and to minimize the pain that you are feeling. It is their task to assist you in learning how to work with your injury, to strengthen the muscle groups and to alleviate the pain so far as possible.

Professional physical therapists are health care providers who have a degree from physical therapy schools. They are experts in the human body, having learned how to help you get the best range of motion and the least amount of pain. This is done by prescribing physical therapy exercises for you which will help you to get back to optimal health.

Additionally they are often involved in helping you to get a better gait and will assist you in training to walk or to work with any restrictions that you may have.

It is quite likely that you will be given special exercises to help you to accomplish the best and most full movement of your body, while lowering the pain. Not only exercises are prescribed in most cases, but also other types of therapy.

These treatments may include a combination of therapeutic massage, special exercises, hot and cold treatment, and even treatment with TENS units to help you to decrease the pain that you are feeling while improving your overall fitness and getting your muscles and joints back into shape.

Our bodies may not always work the way that we hope they will. In some cases, learning how to work with limitations that we have and how to accomplish the tasks which are necessary with those limitations is difficult.

The trained physical therapy professional can help you to get the most out of your body despite your physical limitations and to help you to use your muscles most effectively.

Find Physical Therapy Universities in the United States and Canada. Become an expert in the field of physically therapy by attending one of several physical therapy universities where you can participate in various degree programs. Commonly, physical therapy universities provide 4-year programs in physiotherapy, which may lead to a Doctor of Physical Therapy, or a Masters in Physical therapy.

Prospective students must complete a minimum of an undergraduate program in physiotherapy or related sciences prior to entry into physical therapy universities. In some cases, physical therapy universities do extend undergraduate studies so students can complete necessary academics for acceptance into one of these graduate/post-graduate courses.

Currently there are over 200 accredited physical therapy programs at physical therapy universities, colleges and schools throughout the United States. Accreditation is important as graduates must attain this formal education in order to earn eligibility to take the national licensing examination. (Licensure is required by all States in the U.S.)

Depending on which course of study you choose to pursue, there are at least 31 accredited Master of Physical Therapy programs, as well as over 170 Doctor of Physical Therapy degree programs available through physical therapy universities and colleges today, which makes earning a degree both convenient and readily accessible.

The curricula at physical therapy universities includes studies in biology, biomechanics, chemistry, diagnostics, human growth and development, kinesiology, neuroanatomy, pathology and physical therapeutics. Studies are course-intensive and require a fair amount of dedication and willingness to strive for academic excellence. In addition, if you're currently in high school and are aiming for a degree in physical therapy, it is wise to take associated science courses related to the field like sports medicine; or volunteering as an athletics trainer for the local football or baseball team. Furthermore, some physical therapy universities do provide Associate Degree programs to students pursuing a career as a physical therapist assistant or physiotherapy aide.

Once you've enrolled in one of a number of physical therapy universities, and you've earned your professional degree, you can continue to grow professionally by not only taking required continuing education courses, but opting to attain board certification in several specialized areas of focus, like cardio-pulmonary physiotherapy, geriatric physical therapy, occupational therapy, and orthopedic physical therapy, among others.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, career outlook in both professional fields (physical therapist and physical therapist assistant) are expected to grow over the coming years.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding physical therapy universities, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

Physical Therapy Universities: Earn Your Degree

© Copyright 2007

The CollegeBound Network

All Rights Reserved

NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.