Physical Therapy in Dominican Republic

What you need to know about Physical Therapy in Dominican Republic

Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is a non-invasive type of treatment that helps individuals restore, maintain, and develop body movement and physical function. It is usually suggested to people who have had an illness, injury, or disability that makes it hard for them to do daily tasks. The main goal of physical therapy is to ease pain and help patients function, move, and live better. Medical professionals who provide physical therapy are called physical therapists, or physiotherapists. They are trained and licensed to diagnose physical abnormalities, maintain physical function, restore physical function and mobility, and promote proper function and physical activity.

Physical therapists are qualified to treat a wide range of medical conditions, depending on their specialty. Some of the most common physical therapy specialties are:

• Orthopedic physical therapy treats musculoskeletal injuries. They typically treat fractures, tendonitis, sprains, and bursitis.
• Geriatric physical therapy helps older people with conditions that affect their physical function and mobility, such as hip and joint replacement, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, and arthritis.
• Neurological physical therapy help people with neurological disorder or disease, such as brain injury, cerebral palsy, stroke, and multiple sclerosis.
• Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation help those affected by certain cardiopulmonary conditions and surgical procedures. 
• Pediatric physical therapy assists in the diagnosis, treat and manage conditions affecting infants, children, and adolescents, such as developmental delays, spina bifida, and torticollis. 

Physical therapy can be different for everyone, depending on the patient’s illness or injury and personal goal. Physical therapy treatment may involve:

• Targeted exercises and stretches guided by the physical therapist
• Ultrasound to promote blood flow and healing.
• Massage, heat or cold therapy, or warm water therapy to relieve muscle pain or spasms.
• Phonophoresis to decrease inflammation.
• Electrical stimulation to increase functional capabilities and reduce pain.
• Light therapy to treat certain medical conditions.

How Long Should I Stay in Dominican Republic?

Most of the time, you may be allowed to leave Dominican Republic right after your physical therapy session. However, since a physical therapy program usually requires more than one session, you should stay until all of your sessions are finished. Most people will need six to twelve sessions, between six and eight weeks. 

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

It is generally recommended that you rest after a physical therapy session. Physical therapy helps you recover from an illness or an injury and there is usually no extra recovery time after you finish your physical therapy program.

What Aftercare is Required?

After a physical therapy session, you must drink plenty of water and take note of unusual pain. If your physical therapist gives you an exercise program to do at home, make sure to do it as directed. Your physical therapist will likely give you instructions to make recovery time quicker and avoid any further damage. 

What's the Success Rate?

Like many other medical treatments, physical therapy continues to advance. With the broad knowledge and experience of physical therapists, they can use evidence-based approaches to help you improve mobility, balance, and strength, as well as reduce scar tissue formation, relieve pain and swelling, improve flexibility, and reduce the development of any secondary issue. Physical therapy is safe, but there are some risks you will need to be aware of. It can cause discomfort, pain, and in some very rare cases, do more harm than good. 

Are there Alternatives?

Alternatives to physical therapy depend on your specific condition. For some diseases and injury, you may have no other choice than seeing a physical therapist. In many cases, you may be able to see massage therapists, acupuncturists, or chiropractors to relieve pain.

Physical Therapy in and around Dominican Republic

About the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic can be found on the island of Hispaniola and is a part of the island group, the Great Antilles. The nation has diverse natural environments and land features. Characterized by rugged mountains on one side and the other side consist of low lying valleys and coastal plains. It is the world’s leading producer of professional baseball players. It is also home to the highest mountain, Pico Duarte, and the largest lake, Lago Enriquillo in the Caribbean Region.

In recent times, the Dominican Republic has become popular with medical tourists. Tourists, particularly from the United States, visit the country for Plastic and Reconstructive surgeries, especially for Breast Augmentation procedure. About 25,000 to 30,000 patients visit the Dominican Republic yearly for various medical treatments. The most sought-after services are general, Plastic and cosmetic surgeries, dental procedures, weight-loss, oncology, and orthopedic treatments.

Most medical service providers are situated around the capital city Santa Domingo and Santiago. The medical establishments offer competitive healthcare services with highly-qualified and internationally-trained surgeons. The following clinics can be found in Santa Domingo: Dr. Rafael E. Estevez - Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgeon, Dr. Gustavo Almanzar Plastic Surgery Clinic, Alba Reyes Skin, and Hair Transplant Institute and Dr. Ivan Strachan Bariatric Clinic.

Popular Parts of Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is an unmatched destination with amazing natural sceneries, intriguing history, and diverse culture. It offers ecotourism adventures in splendid national parks, mountain ranges, beaches, and rivers.

Top attractions of the Dominican Republic:

• Santa Domingo – The capital city is where Christopher Columbus first set foot in the Americas. It is home to century-old buildings, most of which function as restaurants, shops, quaint hotels, and museums. Zona Colonial is the historic central area of Santa Domingo. It is the oldest European settlement and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  
• Punta Cana –Is a premier resort destination, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It offers about 20 miles of white sandy beaches. The Bavaro Beach area and Punta Cana together form the Coconut Coast, an area of luxurious resorts. It is famous for water activities such as zip-lining, kayaking, windsurfing, and sailing.
• Samara Province –Is a city overlooking the Samana Bay. Its unique feature is the breeding point for thousands of humpback whales during their mating season in winter.
• Parque Nacional Del Este – Meaning the ‘Eastern National Park’, is one of the largest marine parks in the Caribbean. It also has an offshore coral reef system. Divers can watch a multitude of marine life within its waters. It is also home to hundreds of different species of birds, tropical forests and beaches.
• Lago Enriquillo – The massive hypersaline lake lies 140 feet below the sea level. You will see a large population of American crocodiles as well as pink flamingos, and various other bird species and you will even find iguanas at the entrance of the lake.
• El Limon Waterfalls – Being the tallest falls of the country, it is perfect for hiking and horseback riding through the rugged and steep mountain trail. The hike gives you a stunning view of the Caribbean landscape. The crystal-clear natural pool at its foot is a perfect place to cool off and relax.
• Kite Beach, Cabarete –Is a unique beach, about 20 minutes on foot from the main Cabarete Beach. Kiteboarders fill the otherwise quiet beach in the afternoons when the wind picks up.

Jarabacoa, Sosua, La Romana, Las Aguilas, and Puerto Plata & Playa Dorada are several other popular tourist spots in the Dominican Republic.

Weather and Climate in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has a tropical weather climate, and constant temperature throughout the year, with average yearly temperature, is around 77°F.

The hottest and humid period is from May to October. The mild winter season is from December to March. The period between November and April are the moderate seasons.

Rainfall is seasonal. The eastern and southern coasts experience rains between April and October. The northern coast receives rains throughout the year due to the influence of the north-eastern trade winds. The southern region is prone to hurricanes, with most striking in the months of August and September.

Getting Around in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic offers easy access to the rest of the world with a myriad of flight options from North America and Europe. The main ports of entry into the country by air are the international airports in Santa Domingo, Punta Cana, and Puerto Plata. Santiago and Samana airports are other points of entry.

There are many flights from major cities of Canada and the US. The most frequent flights are from New York, Miami, Toronto, and Montreal. JetBlue, the budget airlines, operates flights from North America to Santo Domingo, Santiago, and Puerto Plata.

The Dominican Republic has a well-developed inter-country transport infrastructure with a large network of roads. It has many types of public transportation for moving around within cities such as buses, the metro, carro publicos, guaguas, and the motoconchos.

Carro Publicos are small car-public taxis and have a specific route displayed on their roof. Guaguas are privately-owned minivans and pick up travelers from any point and drop them off close to their desired location. Motoconchos are private motorcycle taxis that have reasonable fares and are ideal for short journeys.

Tourist Visas in the Dominican Republic

Citizens of countries such as the UK, USA, and Canada, and Schengen countries are not required to have a tourist visa to enter the Dominican Republic, under a bilateral agreement between the countries. However, they do need to:

• Carry a tourist card (Tourist cards allow you to stay for 30 days and allow an extension to stay beyond 30 days).
• Have a valid passport not expiring before six months with at least one blank page
• Carry proof of onward and return journeys and sufficient funds.

Nationals of countries like India, Sri Lanka, China, and Russia need to get a tourist visa to travel to the Dominican Republic. The visas are multiple-entry type and are valid for 60 days.

Additional Information

• The Dominican Peso (RD$) is the official currency of the country. As of April 2019, one US Dollar is worth about 51 RD$. Major tourist areas like Punta Cana accept US Dollars.
• You can find many ATMs in Santa Domingo and other popular tourist cities. Dominican Republic banks are members of the Maestro, Citrus, and PLUS networks. Hence, you can use the affiliate credit and debit cards here.
• Spanish is the official and major language of the country. Dominican Spanish forms its dialect. Very few locals understand and speak English.
• 93% of the population follow Roman Catholicism. However, many Dominicans do not go to church on a regular basis.
• Major holidays of the Dominican Republic are religious. While others are non-religious and national holidays. Other than Christmas and Good Friday, the Day of Our Lady of Altagracia (January 21), Corpus Christi (June 17) and the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy (September 24) are the religious holidays. Juan Pablo Duarte (January 26), Independence Day (February 27), and Dominican Restoration Day (August 16) are the national holidays specific to the country.