Physical therapy (PT) is the use of physical exercises and natural factors for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes in the process of restoring the health, physical condition, and working capacity of the patient. It is an integral part of medical rehabilitation and is used in all its periods and stages.
PT means are – therapeutic physical culture, therapeutic massage, physiotherapy, mechanotherapy, occupational therapy, etc.
The appointment of means of physical rehabilitation and the sequence of application of its forms and methods are determined by the nature of the course of the disease, the general condition of the patient, the period and stage of rehabilitation, and the motor mode, etc.
The main tasks of rehabilitation are:
- functional recovery (full or compensation with insufficient or no recovery);
- adaptation to everyday life and work;
- involvement in the labor process;
- dispensary supervision of patients.
