How Physical Therapy Can Get You Moving Again
For those living with chronic medical conditions or recovering from a debilitating injury, the reality of losing mobility can be difficult to cope with. Activities you previously enjoyed doing — like hobbies or even housework — may become harder or even impossible to accomplish. While surgery or medication may seem like a foregone conclusion, physical therapy could be an alternative solution that doesn’t involve lengthy recovery times or a long list of side effects, rebuilding your strength with a program of exercises and treatments specially designed to improve both musculoskeletal health and quality of life.
What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is a program using a combination of exercises, massages, and physical stimuli (such as heat, cold, electrical currents, and ultrasound) designed to relieve pain, improve mobility, and strengthen weakened muscles. Also known as physiotherapy, physical therapy treats patients living with a wide range of injuries and chronic conditions, including arthritis, cerebral palsy, fractures, head injuries, heart disease, and lower back pain.
Sessions are conducted by a physical therapist (PT), who provides specialized services to restore function and mobility as well as relieve any pain, ultimately aiming to prevent any lasting physical disabilities or limit them. PTs examine each patient’s medical history before performing physical exams as well as functional and pain assessments, during which time the PT will evaluate the patient’s balance, coordination, range of motion, and motor function. Therapists will also determine each patient’s ability to live independently or be reintegrated back into their workplace or community, then develop a personalized treatment strategy — which is tailored to each patient’s specific challenges and goals — and explain the purpose of the treatment as well as the anticipated outcome.
Patients aren’t just told what to do. Rather, they’re encouraged to take an active role in their care, working closely with the therapy team as well as other healthcare providers.
Benefits of Physical Therapy
With exercises specifically designed to build strength, physical therapy yields a broad spectrum of health benefits, according to the American Physical Therapy Association. Physical therapy can help patients become more mobile by restoring function as much as possible, but it can also provide a recommended amount of physical activity for those who may be struggling to reach that level because of their condition or injury. This, in turn, can benefit the patient’s mental health and help prevent other chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and even depression and some forms of cancer.
Physical therapy also serves as an excellent alternative to other forms of treatment patients may want to avoid, such as opioids and expensive surgical procedures. In fact, APTA reports studies have shown physical therapy is as effective as surgery for multiple conditions, such as degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis of the knee, meniscus and rotator cuff tears, and spinal stenosis. Physical therapy also provides better overall value for the patient, APTA says, preventing chronic conditions from worsening and saving patients on healthcare costs.
Is physical therapy right for you? Schedule a free screening today at Warner Hospital & Health Services Physical Therapy! Visit the therapy clinic at 408 W. South St. or call 217-937-5224 for more information.
