Physical Therapists in Aurora CO treat pain and injury related to medical conditions and sports injuries. These healthcare providers help patients of all ages move better and relieve pain in various areas of the body.
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Education and Training
Typically, physical therapists spend six to seven years in school before they become licensed. This is the time it takes to graduate from an accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. The first step is to earn a bachelor’s degree, though some schools offer combined programs that allow students to pursue a bachelor’s and DPT simultaneously.
While pursuing their undergraduate degrees, applicants need to focus on subjects that will help prepare them for the physical therapy program’s rigorous curriculum. Common courses include anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and neuroscience. In addition to classroom coursework, most PT programs require a minimum number of clinical hours working with actual patients.
The work of physical therapists involves one-on-one interaction with patients, so they need to be personable and confident in their abilities. They must also be detail oriented, physically strong and have excellent communication skills. Additionally, a PT needs compassion and empathy, as they often assist individuals who feel vulnerable during treatment.
PTs can work in a variety of settings, including private practices and hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation centers, home health agencies and nursing homes. They can also choose to specialize in areas such as sports medicine, wound care and women’s health. Those who opt to specialize should consider earning additional credentials by passing the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties exam, which requires a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical experience.
Specializations
Licensed physical therapists (also called PTs) treat musculoskeletal issues, such as injuries and illnesses affecting the bones, muscles, ligaments, joints, and tendons. Using the application of heat, cold, water, electricity, massage and exercise, they work to help patients regain mobility and relieve pain. They also provide education on how to prevent future health problems and improve overall health. They may be called upon to work in nursing homes, schools, or other public healthcare facilities, and are often part of a larger medical team.
Many physical therapists specialize in a particular area of physical therapy. Some examples include pediatric therapists, who treat children and young adults with physical disabilities or developmental conditions; orthopedic therapists, who focus on treating skeletal injuries and diseases; and geriatric therapists, who work with older patients to help them manage their illness and injury.
In addition to traditional in-person sessions, some therapists in Aurora CO offer online therapy. These virtual sessions are typically conducted over video or phone and can last up to an hour. They may be a good option for individuals who have trouble traveling to an office and those with limited transportation. Moreover, they allow patients to engage in counseling from anywhere in the world. These professionals can assist clients with a variety of issues, including improving healthy relationships and communication skills, working through life’s obstacles, and changing negative thinking patterns.
Experience
Whether it’s due to an accident, injury, or age-related condition, Physical Therapists in Aurora CO help patients recover by using medically prescribed exercises and treatments. They work closely with doctors to assess and diagnose patient conditions, perform physical evaluations and implement treatment plans, and use massage, heat, cold, electric stimulation, light, and exercise to help patients improve movement and decrease pain.
PTs have advanced education in the field of human movement and physical activity, including anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, neuroanatomy, and pathology. They also have extensive experience in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating injuries and conditions.
Gayle Fischer is a licensed physical therapist and Polestar Pilates Rehabilitation certified physical therapist with more than nineteen years of experience. She combines her doctorate in physical therapy with her passion for Pilates to improve her patients’ outcomes and quality of life.
Located just east of Denver, Aurora has a semi-arid climate (Koppen climate classification BSk). With four distinct seasons, Aurora experiences mild weather with low humidity throughout the summer and winter. Tornado season lasts from April to July, and hailstorms – at times 1-2’+ deep – occur on occasion throughout the spring and summer months. Residents of Aurora can also enjoy the city’s thriving arts and culture scene, with numerous galleries, performance venues, yoga studios, and coffee shops. Notable locals include politician John Kerry, UFC fighter Michelle Waterson and comic book artist J. Scott Campbell.
Zocdoc
Zocdoc is a service that connects patients with doctors, allowing them to book appointments online. It is free to use for both patients and providers, and it makes it easy to find a doctor in a specific zip code or specialty. The site also offers the ability to fill last-minute appointments, which can be a lifesaver for busy doctors. Zocdoc verifies all providers before they can appear in the search results. This ensures that the provider will be able to see the patient for the appointment they booked.
Many healthcare practitioners are using Zocdoc to increase their patient numbers and attract new clients. However, this platform has some downsides that need to be considered by medical practice owners before deciding to sign up. For example, it can be expensive for doctors to advertise on Zocdoc and can result in a large number of bookings that may not actually be seen. Additionally, patients can sometimes be difficult to contact and hounding a patient for their insurance details after they have booked an appointment is not ideal.
In order to overcome these issues, Zocdoc offers a number of free practice tools that can help doctors streamline their workflow and increase the quality of patient experience. These include patient scheduling, verification of insurance details, and automatic uploading of pre-appointment patient information into the doctor’s practice management system.