What is Physical Therapy?

Physical Therapy consists of the professional services provided by and under the direction of a Physical Therapist. It involves a thorough rehabilitation program with an emphasis on fitness, education, and prevention. Hands-on attention is given to reduce pain and normalize function, while individualized programs are carefully designed for each patient, both in the clinic and at home. These highly trained professionals are dedicated to providing the optimum in physical therapy care.

The role of physical therapy is to improve and restore function, alleviate pain, and prevent disability.
Physical therapists help people of all ages return to normal function after an injury, surgery or disease.
Physical therapists specialize in movement analysis and are skilled in evaluation and diagnosis of the musculoskeletal system.
The goal of physical therapy is to assist and educate patients how to maximize health, function, and independence, thus improving quality of life.
Physical therapists also develop individualized treatment programs designed to prevent injury from occurring or to slow the progression of conditions resulting from injury, disease, and other causes.

A thorough evaluation is completed and a comprehensive individual program is implemented for each patient. Our purpose is not only to decrease pain, but to normalize function and thus provide a quick return to normal activities and establish a continuing prevention program.

Working closely with the physician, we are able to promote the patient with a well-rounded program of rehabilitation, education, prevention and fitness.

What do the initials behind your Physical Therapist name mean?

All licensed physical therapists must graduate from an accredited school and after graduation must pass a licensure examination. Once a physical therapist is licensed they may use the initials:

PT – Licensed to practice Physical Therapy by a state
MPT – Master of Physical Therapy
DPT – Doctor of Physical Therapy

Currently, eighty percent of physical therapy schools award the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and by 2020 all programs are mandated by the American Physical Therapy Association to award the DPT degree.

Are you being Treated by a Board Certified Physical Therapist?

As with physicians who are board certified, physical therapists can become board certified in a specialty area of practice. After graduation, all physical therapists may apply for Board Certification in a specialty area of practice. Board Certification ensures that the public is getting a high standard of care.

The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), awards certifications to physical therapists meeting approved requirements. To obtain board certification, candidates must submit evidence of required clinical practice in a specialty area, and successfully complete a rigorous written examination, which demonstrates specialized knowledge and advanced clinical proficiency in a specialty area of physical therapist practice.

There are only 17 physical therapists in the state of Oklahoma certified in orthopaedics. Nationally, there are 66,000 practicing physical therapists, and of those only 3,649 hold a clinical specialist certification in orthopaedics.

If a physical therapist has obtained board certification, they will display their certifications at the end of their name.

Bridgit A. Finley, PT
Board Certified in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy Central has four board certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialists.

Who is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT)?

"Fellow" status in the AAOMPT is both a membership classification and a professional credential. As a professional credential, a "Fellow" in AAOMPT is an international recognition of competence and expertise in the practice of orthopaedic manual physical therapy by a physical therapist licensed in the USA.

To achieve the Fellow credential, a physical therapist must complete a credentialed fellowship program in orthopaedic manual physical therapy or demonstrate the equivalent level of competence by successfully passing a portfolio review process and oral/practical examination.

The "Fellow" is a physical therapist who has demonstrated advanced clinical, analytical, and hands-on skills in the treatment of musculoskeletal (orthopaedic) disorders. Fellows serve their patients and the public by demonstrating excellence in clinical practice, education, and research.

If a physical therapist has obtained fellow credentials, they will display the Fellow certifications after their name.”

Tim Flynn, PT, PhD
Board Certified in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Fellowship Trained in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy