Physical therapy may include goal-directed activities in manual therapy, mechanical treatments, and various other modalities. Conditioning and training programs, patient education, and home exercise programs also play a role in physical therapy.

In physical therapy, a professional team of healthcare specialists:

• Evaluates conditions where help is needed
• Develops a schedule of therapy
• Helps in the performance of exercises and prescribed treatments
• Provides education, ongoing management, and support

Your therapist will develop a treatment program for you involving long and short-term goals. The programs are based on an evaluation of such things as:

• Balance and mobility
• Balance in sitting, standing, and moving
• The ability to transfer to a chair
• The ability to walk on level or uneven surfaces and stairs (with or without adaptive equipment)
• Many other criteria

Your physical therapy program may include such things as stretching and strengthening exercises along with work on balance, mobility, or gait training. You work directly with the physical therapist to perform the work and learn how to avoid injury.