How is physical therapy defined in Utah?

"Physical therapy" or "physiotherapy" means:

• Examining, evaluating, and testing an individual who has a physical impairment or injury;
• Identifying or labeling a physical impairment or injury;
• Formulating a therapeutic intervention plan for the treatment of a physical impairment, injury, or pain;
• Assessing the ongoing effects of therapeutic intervention for the treatment of a physical impairment or injury;
• Treating or alleviating a physical impairment by designing, modifying, or implementing a therapeutic intervention;
• Reducing the risk of an injury or physical impairment;
• Providing instruction on the use of physical measures, activities, or devices for preventative and therapeutic purposes;
• Promoting and maintaining health and fitness;
• The administration of a prescription drug pursuant to Section 58-24b-403;
• Engaging in administration, consultation, education, and research relating to the practices described above.

What is included in physical therapy testing?

"Testing" means a standard method or technique used to gather data regarding a patient that is generally and nationally accepted by physical therapists for the practice of physical therapy.

"Testing" includes measurement or evaluation of:

• Muscle strength, force, endurance, or tone;
• Cardiovascular fitness;
• Physical work capacity;
• Joint motion, mobility, or stability;
• Reflexes or autonomic reactions;
• Movement skill or accuracy;
• Sensation;
• Perception;
• Peripheral nerve integrity;
• Locomotor skills, stability, and endurance;
• The fit, function, and comfort of prosthetic, orthotic, or other assistive devices;
• Posture;
• Body mechanics;
• Limb length, circumference, and volume;
• Thoracic excursion and breathing patterns;
• Activities of daily living related to physical movement and mobility;
• Functioning in the physical environment at home or work, as it relates to physical movement and mobility; and
• Neural muscular responses.

What is included in physical therapy interventions?

"Therapeutic intervention" includes:

• Therapeutic exercise, with or without the use of a device;
• Functional training in self-care, as it relates to physical movement and mobility;
• Community or work integration, as it relates to physical movement and mobility;
• Manual therapy, including:
• Soft tissue mobilization;
• Therapeutic massage; or
• Joint mobilization, as defined by the division, by rule;
• Prescribing, applying, or fabricating an assistive, adaptive, orthotic, prosthetic, protective, or supportive device;
• Airway clearance techniques, including postural drainage;
• Integumentary protection and repair techniques;
• Wound debridement, cleansing, and dressing;
• The application of a physical agent, including:
• Light;
• Heat;
• Cold;
• Water;
• Air;
• Sound;
• Compression;
• Electricity; and
• Electromagnetic radiation;
• Mechanical or electrotherapeutic modalities;
• Positioning;
• Instructing or training a patient in locomotion or other functional activities, with or without an assistive device;
• Manual or mechanical traction;
• Correction of posture, body mechanics, or gait; and
• Trigger point dry needling.

Which services are specifically excluded from the practice?

"Physical therapy" or "physiotherapy" does not include:

• Diagnosing disease;
• Performing surgery;
• Performing acupuncture;
• Taking x-rays; or
• Prescribing or dispensing a drug