physical therapy or physiotherapy, treatment of disorders of the muscles, bones, or joints by means of physical agents—heat, light, water, manual and electronic massage, and exercise. Stroke, arthritis, fractures, and nerve damage are common conditions treated. The type of treatment needed is prescribed by a physician and carried out by trained physiotherapists. The therapist attempts to prevent pain or further damage and may also train different muscles to compensate for ones that have been damaged. Whirlpool baths are valuable in treating injuries and chronic inflammatory conditions. Ultrasound ultrasound or sonography, in medicine, technique that uses sound waves to study and treat hard-to-reach body areas. In scanning with ultrasound, high-frequency sound waves are transmitted to the area of interest and the returning echoes recorded
..... Click the link for more information. and short-wave diathermy diathermy (dī`əthûr'mē), therapeutic measure used in medicine to generate heat in the body tissues.
..... Click the link for more information. may be employed for some disorders. Massage (a passive form of exercise) provides stimulation of nerves and prevents muscular atrophy in body areas disabled by paralysis or rheumatic disorders. Active exercises are also prescribed as treatment for various conditions. Physiotherapy is important in sports, not only as part of the conditioning program but also in treating injuries.

physical medicine and rehabilitation

or physiatry or physical therapy or rehabilitation medicine

Medical specialty treating chronic disabilities through physical means to help patients return to a comfortable, productive life despite a medical problem. Its objectives are pain relief, functional improvement or maintenance, training in essential activities, and functional testing of areas such as strength, mobility, breathing capacity, and coordination. Physical medicine may use diathermy, hydrotherapy, massage, exercise, and functional training. The last can mean learning to work with a guide dog or a prosthesis or learning new ways to carry out everyday activities with a limb missing, sometimes by using assistive devices. Physician specialists head rehabilitation teams including a physical therapist, rehabilitation engineer, rehabilitation nurse, psychological counselor, and sometimes a respiratory or speech therapist. See also occupational therapy; orthopedics.