Looking For a Sign that You Need Physical Therapy? This Is It!
Physical therapy isn’t just for rehabilitation or athletes in training. There are many reasons why a person might need the assistance of a physical therapist.
There are five basic indicators that you need to visit a physical therapist.
1. If you’re no longer able to do the activities you used to enjoy
There may not be any specific injury or pain you’re currently experiencing, but you’ve noticed it’s more difficult to do the things you enjoy.
Whether it’s due to a chronic condition such as arthritis or general wear and tear on your joints and muscles, physical therapy can help you get back to the activities you love.
2. If you have been sustaining more injuries than usual
If you’re increasingly pulling muscles or falling more frequently you would likely benefit from working with a physical therapist.
A trained physical therapist can teach you exercises that can improve your balance and increase overall stability.
You may need to learn new ways of warming up or cooling down after your favorite activities to reduce the chance of pulling a muscle or tendon.
3. If you have sustained an injury from repetitive use
You may be one of millions of individuals that sit in the same position, doing the same type of work for hours at a time.
Even if you’re standing and moving around, moving your body in the same way, such as always lifting or pulling items the same way, can result in a repetitive injury. Carpal tunnel or tennis elbow are common injuries that are often caused by repetitive movements.
A physical therapist can teach you simple exercises to treat the condition. A therapist can also show you how to perform repetitive tasks in ways that will prevent future injuries from occurring.
4. If you have just undergone a surgical procedure
After even minor surgery, your body is struggling to heal and recover to its normal state. No matter what type of surgery you’ve just had, physical therapy can help you more quickly regain strength and flexibility.
Physical therapy is especially important if you have or will spend a significant amount of time lying in a hospital bed. It’s necessary to keep muscles and joints as flexible as possible during the healing process.
A physical therapist can also design a program to reduce the amount of scar tissue that forms after surgery. Physical therapy can help you return to your regular routine as quickly as possible.
5. If you have been noticing sharp pain in any areas
Sharp pain, especially if it’s ongoing, may be a sign of a serious injury. It could be a pulled muscle or possibly a stress fracture. The sooner an injury is treated the more likely it will heal quickly.
There is also the chance that an injury will get worse if it is not treated in a timely manner. A physical therapist can do an evaluation and get you started on a treatment program to treat the root cause of your pain.
Choose PT states that a physical therapist may use a variety of methods to treat pain including manual therapy, exercise, and education.
Reducing and eliminating any type of ongoing pain will enable you to more fully participate and enjoy your daily activities.
The benefits of physical therapy
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, physical therapy can help not only with overall wellness, but also prevention.
The purpose of physical therapy remains the same, no matter what you are seeking its services for. Perhaps you are still suffering from the lingering pain of an injury. Perhaps you are recovering from a surgery and trying to get your range of motion back.
Perhaps your joints simply aren’t what they used to be, and you are looking for relief. Whatever the case may be, physical therapists are dedicated to relieving your pain and getting you back to your peak level of physical health.
A physical therapist is a movement specialist, educated in analyzing mobility issues with walking, running, jumping, bending, stretching, and almost every other form of physical activity. Our physical therapist can pinpoint problem areas and create a customized treatment plan aimed at improving those areas.
Through in-office sessions and at-home exercises, patients strengthen their muscles and joints, improve their balance, build endurance, and experience pain relief, all without the unwanted harmful risks of drugs or surgery.
Consult with a physical therapist today
Everything from injuries and surgery to repetitive use and even aging may require physical therapy to get you moving as efficiently as possible.
An individualized physical therapy program can also reduce or even eliminate pain. Physical therapy can help people of all ages live healthier, more active lives.
