By: Kayla Dewitt, PT, DPT
What is Physical Therapy?
As defined by the American Physical Therapy Association, physical therapy is a dynamic profession with an established theoretical and scientific base and widespread clinical applications in the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function.
In other words, physical therapists can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility – in many cases without expensive surgery and often reducing the need for long-term use of prescription medications and their side effects.
How can we help?
Physical therapists and physical therapy assistants can teach patients how to prevent or manage their condition so that they can achieve long-term health benefits. Physical therapists examine each individual and develop a plan, using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function and prevent disability.
How to get started?
If you feel you may need physical therapy, speak with your Oklahoma City Indian Clinic (OKCIC) provider and they can place a referral for physical therapy. If you don’t feel like you have the time for several visits per week for the recommended amount of weeks, the physical therapist is also able to do a one-time visit for a prescription of a specialized home exercise program.
Once I get started in physical therapy, what are my responsibilities?
Patients are expected to attend all recommended physical therapy visits and do their homework. The effectiveness of physical therapy is a team effort between the therapists and the patient. It is a commitment that relies on patient compliance with treatments and with performance of their home exercises.
OKCIC has two staff members in the physical therapy department, Kayla and Elizabeth. Kayla has been OKCIC’s Physical Therapist for over six years and Elizabeth has been OKCIC’s Physical Therapist Assistant for over one year. Together they have a wide range of experience of over 20 years.
