Physical Therapists: Our Friends in the Field

Oftentimes, patients must receive treatment from multiple sources. For instance, a patient might go to their general physician due to a mole they've noticed on their arm. Their general physician might then refer them to a dermatologist to have this mole removed to prevent it from progressing to a more harmful stage. Or another patient might be seen by his podiatrist for treatment of a sore tendon in the ankle when the podiatrist notices this patient has lost some sensation in his feet. The podiatrist would then refer this patient back to a general physician to be sure this patient wasn't borderline diabetic. This cycle of patient referral from physician to physician doesn't push around health care responsibility; instead, it shares the responsibility, ensuring that those who are specialized in certain areas provide the best level of care. This idea extends to the relationship between podiatrists and physical therapists.

Physical therapists provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, and relieve pain. Treatments might include exercises, electrical stimulation, hot packs or cold compresses, ultrasound, and massage. Physical therapists are important to the field of podiatry because they serve as an important adjunct to some of the necessary treatments. For instance, a patient may suffer a fracture in her foot that will keep her in a cast for a few months leaving her somewhat immobilized. This will cause her to perhaps lose some of the strength in this foot over the course of healing time. Physical therapy will enable her to gain the necessary strength back in her foot without the worry of causing re-injury to her foot. As you can see, physical therapists are an integral part of the podiatry field further demonstrating how the medical field is forever interconnected.