1. What is a professional physical therapist?
As defined by the American Physical Therapy Association, physical therapists are recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice to whom consumers have direct access for the diagnosis of, interventions for, and prevention of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities related to movement, function, and health (www.apta.org).
2. What is neurological physical therapy?
Neurological physical therapy is a discipline focused on working with individuals who have a neurological disorder or disease. These include, but are not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS or Lou Gherig’s disease, brain injury (traumatic or non-traumatic), cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, and stroke. Common problems of patients with neurological disorders include paralysis, vision impairment, poor balance, inability to ambulate, vestibular disorders, cognitive impairments, and loss of functional independence. Therapists work with patients to improve these areas of dysfunction.
3. What does DPT (Doctorate in Physical Therapy) mean?
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is a post-baccalaureate degree conferred upon successful completion of a doctoral level professional (entry-level) or post-professional education program. The DPT is the degree conferred upon successful completion of a post-professional physical therapist education program. The “transition” DPT is intended for practicing clinicians and typically offers a didactic and, in some cases, a clinical augmentation that is deemed necessary to meet current and future expectations for physical therapy practice. This augmentation (knowledge, skills, and behaviors) is defined by the difference in content between a practicing clinician’s entry-level education (whatever the year of graduation) and current entry-level education that has not been otherwise acquired through continuing education or specialization (www.apta.org)
4. What is NDT (Neuro-Developmental Treatment)?
Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT) is an advanced therapeutic approach practiced by experienced Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Speech – Language Pathologists. This hands-on approach is used in working with people who have central nervous system insults that create difficulties in controlling movement. Therapists using NDT treatment have completed advanced training in NDT and work closely with individuals with neurological challenges (e.g. cerebral palsy, stroke, head injury), helping them to become as independent as possible. NDT-trained therapists work collaboratively with individuals, family, caregivers and physicians to develop comprehensive treatment programs based on the principles of human neurology and physiology. Individuals who have minimal to severe motor difficulties can benefit from the NDT approach (www.ndta.org)
5. What is a NCS (Neurologic Specialist Certification)?
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), a national professional organization representing more than 66,000 members throughout the United States, established the specialist certification program in 1978. Specialization is the process by which a physical therapist builds on a broad base of professional education and practice to develop a greater depth of knowledge and skills related to neurology. Clinical specialization in physical therapy responds to a specific area of patient need and requires knowledge, skill, and experience exceeding that of the physical therapist at entry to the profession and unique to neurological rehabilitation. The specialist certification program was established to provide formal recognition for physical therapists with advanced clinical knowledge, experience, and skills in neurological rehabilitation and to assist consumers and the health care community in identifying these physical therapists. Currently, there are 535 neurologic clinical specialists worldwide (www.apta.org)
6. What are the professional requirements for a physical therapist to practice llegally in Costa Rica?
All health professionals in Costa Rica must be active members in good standing of the national association in charge of this area. In the case of physical therapist in Costa Rica, so PT`s are join the “Colegio de Médicos y Cirujanos de Costa Rica” (the Costa Rican Association of doctors and Surgeons) as ”affiliated health professionals”. To be admited, candidates must have, minimally, a 4 year ”licentiate”(licenciatura) degree in physical therapy from an accredited university, and their admission must be approved by the medical Board of Directors. Once admited, each is assigned an official membership number which identifies them in their professional practice.