Physical therapy is a type of healthcare that focuses on improving physical functioning. There are many types of physical therapists, but cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapists are relatively similar in their training and duties. They work with patients who have conditions such as asthma or heart disease , to help them recover from injury or illness. Here we will discuss some commonalities between these two types of physical therapists, as well as the differences between them.
Key similarities
Cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapists typically have a common training background and some specialize in both types of PT. Cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapists Both types of physical therapy work to improve your overall health, so some similar skills may be used by both groups. For example, a cardiovascular and a pulmonary physical therapist can use the same exercise techniques to promote strength in patients with heart disease or asthma.
Cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapists also both work with patients who are recovering from surgery or injury. Some of these injuries include heart attacks, strokes, brain trauma, leg fractures, hip replacements, and knee surgeries. Both types of PT help their patients recover through exercise therapy which can be done at home as well as in-clinic sessions. Cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapists also work to educate their patients about changes they will need to make in order to help themselves recover from injury.
Key differences
While cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapists have a lot of similarities, there are some differences as well. The first is that many PTs only specialize in one type of therapy. over the other because it can be more difficult to be well-versed in both. The other difference is that cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapists may work with different patients because the conditions they treat are not always related. For example, a patient recovering from surgery or injury can have either cardiac issues or respiratory problems at the same time.
Cardiovascular PT focuses on helping people recover after surgery or injury to their heart and blood vessels. This includes conditions such as coronary artery disease, rheumatic fever, high blood pressure, arrhythmias (abnormal beats of the heart), congenital diseases that affect patients’ valves or arteries, congestive heart failure (a condition where the body does not receive enough oxygenated blood through the heart), aneurysms (weakening of the walls of a blood vessel) and many others.
Pulmonary physical therapy focuses on helping people recover from respiratory conditions or surgery to their lungs, airways, chest wall, and diaphragm. This includes all types of lung cancer as well as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD, a condition where the lungs are inflamed and airways narrower than normal). Both types of PT work with patients who have had surgery or injury to their nervous system, muscles, or joints.
While there are many similarities, one may be right for you and not the other. Make sure to consult with a cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy clinic near you for more information on what options would best suit your needs.
