The term "PT" can refer to two different things: a physical therapist or a prothrombin time test with an international normalized ratio (PT/INR) .
A physical therapist (PT) is a health specialist who evaluates and treats human body disorders. They help people of all ages and at different life stages, from newborns to people at the end of life, manage illnesses or injuries to their musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary, or integumentary systems. Physical therapists diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to people at the end of life, who have injuries, disabilities, or other health conditions that need treatment. They examine each person and then develop a recovery plan that often focuses on treatments that reduce the need for surgery and prescriptive drugs. Physical therapists use a combination of exercise, stretches, hands-on techniques, and equipment to restore function or relieve pain. They work with physical therapy assistants, educators, social workers, nurses, doctors, and surgeons to treat patients of all ages.
On the other hand, a prothrombin time (PT) test measures how long it takes for a clot to form in a blood sample, while an international normalized ratio (INR) is a type of calculation based on PT test results. This test helps diagnose the cause of bleeding or clotting disorders and checks to see if a medicine that prevents blood clots is working the way it should.
