What is the main purpose of physical therapy?
A. The main purpose of physical therapy is to assist the patient in returning to active life as quickly as possible. This includes striving to reduce pain, improve flexibility and function, increase range of motion, build strength, and correct posture. Physical therapy is often prescribed for patients following surgery, to treat soft tissue trauma, nerve inflammation/injury, muscle spasms, fractures, arthritis, and many other problems. Patient education is an important component of physical therapy. Patients are taught how their body works, proper body mechanics, common disorders and their causes, benefits of good posture, and the importance of physical fitness and its relationship to injury and disease prevention.
