Risk in Orthopedic Physical Therapy

Abstract

The number of physical therapists working in the health care facilities for the elderly and in the community is increasing. Physical therapists encounter patients who have medical problems that they cannot directly. In foreign countries, independent practice by physical therapists (direct access) has already undergone. In such a situation, the ability to differentiate between musculoskeletal problems and other diseases which show the same symptoms is needed in order to avoid risk. Differential diagnosis is the ability to confirm problems not related to the musculoskeletal system and find the needs of medical intervention from the patients' medical history, subjective complaints and objective findings. Physical therapists need to understand patients' complaints comprehensively. In cases whose condition demands that they should not receive physical therapy, or the condition is beyond the knowledge of physical therapist, the physical therapist should report to the doctor. This article describes differential diagnoses in orthopedic physical therapy.