Date: Tue, 7 Mar 1995 10:21:38 +0300 From: Michael Krugman Subject: Physiotherapy/Physical Therapy >What exactly is Physiotherapy, and how does it differ from Physical >Therapy? Physiotherapy is nothing more than Physical Therapy with a British accent. They are essentially the same profession, but in England, Australia, New Zealand, etc., it is called Physiotherapy or simply Physio. Practitioners of Physio also refer to themsleves as "physios". >What are all the modalities included within the term "Physical Therapy"? Physical Therapy (PT) is not one technique, but an umbrella for many different treatment modalities. Many of the techniques that used by physical therapists were developed by practitioners in other disciplines (MDs, massage therapists, osteopaths, lay practitioners, etc.). Some were developed by PTs, too. The thing that all PT techniques have in common is that they are concerned with physical rehabilitation. As an example: The Feldenkrais Method(R) was created by Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, a PhD physicist (hence the "Dr." appellation) and judo teacher. Dr. F was not a medical man at all. Yet in recent years many PTs have begun to do the Feldenkrais Method, or at least a variation of it, in their practice. Some PTs do the Feldenkrais Method exclusively. Some PT schools include a bit of Feldenkrais as part of their curriculum. In addition, many of the enrollees in our 1000-hour Feldenkrais Professional Training Programs are PTs. The PTs undergo this training after they have graduated from PT school in order to become fully accredited as teachers of the Feldenkrais Method. Our trainings are also open to folks who are not medical practitioners, but who want to practice the Feldenkrais Method as a non-medical modality (as did the Method's originator, Dr. Feldenkrais). The training is the same for both. (I am a Feldenkrais Teacher--not a PT--and an organizer of Feldenkrais Professional Training Programs. Just so you know "where I'm coming from.") Another example of an "outside" technique practiced by PTs is "cranio-sacral therapy" as popularized by Dr. Upledger (I believe he is an osteopath?). Many accomplished PTs take Dr. Upledger's seminars to enhance their professional capabilities, in addition to their official PT training in school. It seems to me that PTs are generally willing to adapt any method or technique that helps their patients. Not a bad attitude, IMHO. >Is chiropractic treatment considered physical therapy? Chiropractic is considered (by its practitioners and adherents) to be a form of medical treatment based on physical manipulation, primarily of the joints of the spine. (The medical part is hotly contested by the American Medical Association, and MDs are forbidden to send their patients to chiropractors.) Chiropractors consider themselves medical practitioners who heal people without drugs and surgery. Interestingly enough, chiropractic has also become something of an umbrella in recent years. Many chiropractors offer various types of massage, cranio-sacral technique, and therapeutic exercise in addition to spinal manipulation. Chiropractic and PT are two separate and distinct professions, with some techniques and treatment modalities that may be shared in common. >Or is there some overlap between the two? Yes. See above. >Or does physical therapy just mean teaching you exercises? No. See above. >Is the "deep tissue massage" discussed by Pascarelli normally considered >something a physical therapist does/a part of physical therapy, or is it >considered something different? "Deep tissue massage" can refer to any number of different techniques that involve manipulation of soft tissue including the deep layers of muscle and connective tissue. It is offered by a wide variety of practitioners, from PTs and chiropractors to massage therapists. Rolfing is also a specialized type of deep tissue massage. Finally, two other professions you might want to be aware of are physiatry and osteopathy. Physiatry is a medical specialty concerned with physical rehabilitation. Physiatrists may use a variety of techniques, much like physical therapists, but they are physicians. They can prescribe drugs or send you for surgery, if necessary. Osteopaths are medical doctors with special, and very sophisticated IMHO, training in manipulation techniques. Osteos tend to be located in outlying areas, away from urban concentrations, where they may function as primary caregivers. (This is not strictly true, however. There are several highly accomplished osteopathic practitioners here in New York City.) "Physical Therapy" (capital P, capital T) is the name of a profession. But all of the medical modalities I have mentioned offer "physical therapy" (small p, small t): they all offer help for people that are hurt. Any of practitioner of one of these professions can offer help for RSI sufferers, IF (and it's a big if) they have taken the time to study the special needs of this population and to learn the treatment modalities, within their specialty or outside it, that work best for RSI. The label is less important than the quality of care. Michael Krugman myriad@panix.com