Visiting a physical therapist can greatly benefit your health and help to prevent future injuries
In 2008, my husband sustained a knee injury that would completely alter his dreams and goals as an athlete.
Ultimately left with two choices. He either had to settle for the injury and continue to be in pain or he could opt into undergoing surgery to repair his knee. My husband chose to have surgery which had him immobile for a while. It was in his time of being still that he wished he had explored more options. As he was recovering, he visited a physical therapist for a few months. It is during his time with the PT that he realized that if he had visited the idea of physical therapy prior to surgery, he could have avoided surgery altogether. Knowledge is power.
Physical therapy is a viable option for healing and it provides a variety of benefits.
Benefits include reducing pain, improving movement functions, and increasing range of motion. Physical Therapists not only provide a customized service for rehabilitation, but they also provide education for the purposes of preventing further injuries. Whether you undergo surgery or not, physical therapy can help to improve faulty movement patterns, to prevent a build-up of scar tissue, and to stretch tight muscles and joints. Thankfully, the physical therapy appointments helped my husband with all three areas. He was able to regain movement, avoid a build-up of scar tissue and he was able to avoid tight muscles and joints.
Most people will only go to a Physical Therapist once they’ve sustained an injury.
However, visiting a physical therapist can greatly benefit your health and help to prevent future injuries. Physical Therapists are human body movement experts that can provide a unique perspective on mobility. They can design a plan of care for patients before AND after injuries. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, Physical Therapists help people maximize their quality of life. Therefore, physical therapy is an essential part of healthy living.
So, how can physical therapy help you prevent injury and improve your quality of life?
- Avoid Surgery
Although there are instances where surgery is necessary, in some cases, surgery can be avoided altogether by choosing a Physical Therapist. Some conditions can be treated with non-invasive treatment options such as physical therapy.
- Improve mobility
Physical therapy helps to increase functional mobility. If we practice moving our bodies and increase our range of motion, then our mobility will improve. Physical Therapists are experts in movement, and they can help you address any mobility issues you may have.
- Manage age-related issues
Issues such as arthritis and osteoporosis can greatly reduce mobility. Working with a PT can help to slow down the effects of these conditions. Physical therapy can help regain mobility and range of motion.
- Improve balance and prevent future accidents
One of the best ways to maintain your health is to not injure yourself! But how can we decrease the chances of injuring ourselves? One way is to improve our balance. A physical therapist can work with you to strengthen your body, improve core strength, and lead to greater balance. It goes without saying that great balance should lead to fewer falls, resulting in fewer injuries.
If you want pain relief, improved mobility, and proper alignment there are many phenomenal local Physical Therapists who can help you get back to feeling like yourself again. Not sure where to start when choosing a Physical Therapist, visit www.choosept.com to learn more.
