Physical therapists specialize in movement and muscles. They evaluate and treat disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems in order to prevent, correct or alleviate physical or mental disability.

Physical therapy can also play an important role in the prevention of symptoms, functional limitations and disabilities which can result from disease and injury.

Conditions which benefit from physical therapy include injury or disease affecting the muscles, bones, ligaments, or tendons, the treatment of post operative joints, acute sports injuries, arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, hip and joint replacement, balance disorders, amputations, Alzheimer's disease, ALS, brain injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, heart attacks, post coronary bypass surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pulmonary fibrosis.