Physical therapy
Physical therapy might be the right treatment for you if you have an injury or condition that makes it difficult to do daily tasks.
Physical Therapy Heals
A truly healing form of medicine, physical therapy seeks to restore mobility by:
- Relieving pain
- Improving mobility
- Preventing further injury
- Adapting to an artificial limb(s)
- Controlling the bowels and bladder
- Preventing disability and dysfunction
- Eliminating the need for invasive surgery
- Recovering and healing the body after birth
- Providing rehabilitation after a stroke or accident
- Improving balance and coordination to prevent slips/falls
- Learning to use an assistive device such as a walker or cane
- Managing a chronic illness like diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis
Why Try Physical Therapy?
Physical Therapy can be the Answer to Improved Mobility
People of all ages can benefit from physical therapy, and it can treat various health problems ranging from acute injuries to long-term health conditions to congenital conditions and aging-related maladies.
What Does a Physical Therapist Do?
While different PTs serve varying roles depending on their specialty, WebMD perfectly summarized the question: What does a PT do? “At your first therapy session, your PT will examine and assess your needs. They’ll ask you questions about your pain or other symptoms, your ability to move or do everyday tasks, how well you sleep, and your medical history. The objective is to determine a diagnosis of your condition, why you have the condition, including impairments that either caused or are a result of the condition then develop a plan of care to address each. Then, they’ll work with you to create a treatment plan. It will include your personal goals like functioning and feeling better, plus exercises or other treatments to help you reach them.”[
What Types of Treatments are Considered Physical Therapy?
There is almost no end to the types of treatments offered in physical therapy. Some examples include:
- Massage
- Stretches
- Exercises
- Ultrasound
- Heat or cold therapy
- Use of weights to rebuild muscle
- Routines to improve core strength
- Ambulatory exercises to improve balance
Who is a Candidate for Physical Therapy?
Most people benefit from physical therapy, particularly those recovering from surgery, an injury, an accident, or a major illness or disease. Patients who have experienced an incident or condition that has impaired their mobility can benefit from physical therapy treatments that improve mobility and function while reducing pain.
How Long Does Physical Therapy Take?
Physical therapy treatments vary depending on the patient. Some patients need just a few sessions; others need months of treatment before they are fully healed. Some patients may learn physical therapy techniques they can practice at home indefinitely.
See if Physical Therapy is Right for You
A growing field and one where new findings and benefits are being discovered every day, physical therapy may be the correct treatment for countless health conditions. Further, physical therapy can relieve pain and promote healing for several injuries. To see if physical therapy is a good fit for you, contact Foundations Health and Physical Medicine.
