What type of patients do physical therapists work with?
Christopher Davis
Updated on March 26, 2026
A few of the health conditions commonly treated by physical therapists are as follows:
- Arthritis.
- Back and neck pain.
- Brain injury.
- Cancer-related complications.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Cerebral palsy.
- Chronic pain.
- Cystic fibrosis.
Does physical therapy actually work?
Physical therapists can help people gain strength and get moving again. They can help reduce or prevent pain and disability. Physical therapists provide care in hospitals, private practices, nursing homes, schools, rehabilitation centers, or in your home.
Can physical therapy cause damage?
Interestingly, while it means that physical therapy can lead to a traumatic experience, the reverse is true indeed. You are much more likely to worsen injuries and prolong the discomfort and pain you are already feeling by avoiding care at a physical therapy facility.
What type of physical therapist makes the most money?
Another high-paying specialty for physical therapists is geriatric medicine. Nursing and residential care facilities offer the highest median pay for physical therapists, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What is the success rate of physical therapy?
Results: Page 2 2 At 7 weeks, the success rates were 68.3% for manual therapy, 50.8% for physical therapy, and 35.9% for continued [physician] care. Statistically significant differences in pain intensity with manual therapy compared with continued care or physical therapy ranged from 0.9 to 1.5 on a scale of 0 to 10.
Why do I feel worse after physical therapy?
If you are sore after physical therapy, that is a sign that your muscles and body are being stressed but in a good way. It’s similar to how strength training works. A muscle must be loaded to become stronger; there must be some kind of resistance otherwise the muscle fibers will never have the chance to grow.