We often tend to complicate simple concepts and simplify complex ones. In my view, physical therapy (PT) science is fundamentally straightforward, primarily consisting of two, perhaps three, treatment approaches:
The Active Method: This involves exercises and techniques where the patient actively participates in their rehabilitation/ treatment
The passive method: Where the patient plays a more passive role
The active assisted method (still active i presume) : This method still involves active patient engagement, but with some level of assistance, such as using a device or having a therapist guide the movements.
This is what i ask the students to do, you can also try it out.
Write all the treatment methods you can think off. If you want you can also add the whole of medicine. It should neatly fit into above three categories. If it does not try again- it will.
Now in case of physical medicine or non- pharmacological medicine, it is about changing the system- well without medicine of via physical means. The issue with trying to change with physical methods is, the system is so easy to semi permanent change. The system resists change- especially when it is physical. The system also needs time to change from one state to another.
To simplify further, let's consider two scenarios:
Scenario I
When someone experiences back pain, their body is in one state (painful). To transition to another state (pain-free), they can use physical or non-pharmacological methods. I can choose as i said earlier- an active method or a passive method to perturb the system to be pain free. which method do you think will have a better chance of getting a semi permanent change or permanent change? what does the evidence say?
Scenario II
Patient with stroke- the system needs to be changed to maximize potential- well active or passive method? (if you answer is it depends- just leave it, of course you are going to make a truck load of money but not going to be a help any patient. )
So, PT is fairly simple, ask yourself- which method can bring in a semi permanent or permanent change. next find out what method does the evidence say works better. Find the answer viola you are a proper therapist - You will not be distracted by shiny machines, the expensive treadmill with or without the robots, the cracking videos (which you wish you can do), and much more.