Newswise — MAYWOOD, IL – Loyola University Medical Center is the first center in Illinois to be accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association as a post-professional residency program for physical therapists in women’s health.

Loyola is one of nine centers nationwide to receive the accreditation.

Loyola's one-year clinical residency program in women’s health is modelled after physician residencies. Residents acquire advanced skills, education and training in physical therapy for such conditions as osteoporosis, lymphedema, pelvic floor disorders and postpartum pain and incontinence.

Clinical residencies are becoming more common in physical therapy. A PT residency is designed to significantly advance the therapist's preparation as a provider of patient care services in a defined area of clinical practice. The resident acquires advanced expertise in examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention and management of patients in a defined specialty.

Loyola received the five-year accreditation from the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education, the accrediting body for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

The accreditation process ensures the quality of the education participants receive in residency and fellowship programs in physical therapy. It is a voluntary, nongovernmental, peer-reviewed process that occurs on a regular basis. In 2012, Loyola became one of the first centers in Illinois to be accredited by the APTA in orthopaedics. Thirteen residents have graduated from this program. Loyola’s physical therapists provide evaluation, rehabilitation and treatment for a variety of acute and chronic conditions for hospitalized and ambulatory patients of all ages. The goals in physical therapy are to educate and assist patients in achieving an optimal level of independence and function and promote health and rehabilitation.