When most people think of physical therapy, they think of someone receiving treatment for an injury such as a sprained ankle or broken leg.
However, physical therapy is much more than that; it’s an important part of the health care system that can help with many other issues besides orthopedic injuries and pain. Here are seven common reasons why people need physical therapy.
1) Seeking recovery from injury 🤕
Many injuries occur because of sports, repetitive motion, and accidents. With physical therapy, recovery can be sped up and injury-related issues can be prevented or reduced.
Whether your back, neck, or ankle is the problem you’ll feel relief with time and treatment.
2) Fixing mobility issues 🏃♀️
Our range of motion is controlled by the complex network of muscles, joints, and bones in our body. It’s when something goes wrong with this complex network that we experience mobility issues.
The good news is with proper direction and treatment from a physical therapist, the symptoms of mobility issues can be mitigated. Practicing regular stretching and exercise can help tremendously.
3) Post-surgery recovery 👨⚕️
If you need a post-surgery recovery, or if your injury-related mobility is impaired and you have difficulty completing a range of motion, then it may be time to seek out physical therapy. It’s important to note that the rehabilitation process will likely last for at least three months (sometimes even up to six months), and in some cases, patients may need long-term care.
But when treated by professionals and completed with a patient’s full commitment, physical therapy can successfully restore people to a healthy life!
4) Pain management ✅
Some of the most common reasons people need physical therapy are reducing pain, relieving muscle spasms, and/or improving range of motion.
Whether you have been injured or just suffer from chronic pain, physical therapy can be a great way to help relieve some of the discomforts while improving your mobility.
5) Stroke recovery ❤
A stroke happens when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off, depriving it of oxygen and other essential nutrients. When this happens, cells can’t function as they should and tissues may die. The symptoms depend on which part of the brain was deprived of blood and whether there is also bleeding.
You or your loved one may notice weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg on one side of their body. Stroke victims are often recommended to seek physical therapy as part of an effort to reduce the weakness and effects of stroke.
6) Age-related 🚶♂️
As we age, there are a number of different changes to our bodies that can make simple movements such as sitting, standing, or walking much more difficult. These types of changes are called age-related disabilities and they often affect the way people think and feel about themselves.
Aging is unavoidable but with the right help and treatment, many seniors find their quality of life improves. Physical therapy can aid in mobility and strength among other things.
7) Surgery avoidance 👍
They say that the best cure is prevention, and physical therapy can reduce the probability of work-related, or sports-related injury.
Using strength conditioning, and mobility exercises we are able to improve the physical health of the patient, thus reducing the chances of everyday injuries occurring.
If you’re looking to get started with a consultation, give our team a call, or send a message here!
