A physical therapist works with you to reduce pain, increase blood flow, improve flexibility and range of motion, and increase strength NC Center For Physical Therapy. This involves a combination of manual therapy techniques (hands-on treatments) and modalities, such as ultrasound, electric stimulation, or targeted exercises.
Some people need short-term physical therapy to recover from a minor injury, while others work with a therapist for months or longer to manage long-term conditions that affect their movement and ability to perform daily tasks.
1. Physical Therapy Prevents Surgery
In many cases, physical therapy is a better option for treatment than surgery. This is because it can reduce pain, relieve symptoms and rehabilitate patients back to a normal life.
It also improves mobility, increases strength and helps to decrease inflammation after a surgery. It can even help reduce the need for pain medication after surgery and reduce your risk of complications.
Your physical therapist is trained in techniques that will help you to get ready for surgery, including strengthening your body before you have the procedure done and helping you to stay stable and strong after the operation is completed.
Your physical therapist can spot problems with an incision or wound long before they become serious enough to bother you. They can also teach you ways to manage pain without medication through massage, ice and heat treatments.
2. Physical Therapy Helps You Stay Active
Physical therapy helps you stay active, whether that means getting back into the gym or playing a sport. A therapist can create a customized exercise program that works with your unique needs and fitness level.
During your treatment sessions, you’ll work on strengthening muscles, improving flexibility, and learning how to move with greater ease. This helps you avoid re-injury and keep your body strong for long periods of time.
In addition to improving your ability to move, physical therapy can also reduce the need for medications or surgery in the future. In fact, a large study of people with new-onset chronic low back pain found that early physical therapy interventions decreased the need for opioids during follow up healthcare visits.
3. Physical Therapy Helps You Relieve Pain
A physical therapist can use hands-on treatments and exercises to relieve pain and inflammation. These may include NC Center For PT therapeutic exercises, stretching, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, taping, cold and heat therapy and massage.
A patient’s unique pain profile can be helpful in designing a treatment plan that targets the underlying issue. This can help relieve pain, increase strength, and improve mobility.
Chronic pain, on the other hand, is usually longer-term and often occurs as a result of injury, disease, trauma, or medical treatment. It can also be caused by faulty movement patterns, which are addressed in physical therapy to reduce pain and make exercise easier.
It’s important to listen to your physical therapist, and follow their advice and recommendations. They can tell you when it’s safe to move the injured area and when you should refrain from activities that could cause more damage.
4. Physical Therapy Helps You Avoid Surgery
There are times when surgery is the only way to treat an injury, but for many cases physical therapy can be just as effective. It can be more affordable and may help you avoid the cost and recovery time associated with surgery.
Moreover, some patients have been able to avoid surgery altogether by using physical therapy first and following up with a surgeon later.
In addition to preventing surgery, physical therapy can also improve the healing process. It can reduce inflammation and scar tissue, improving movement and mobility and preventing pain from developing in the future.
A physical therapist can provide exercises and techniques to decrease swelling, increase circulation and increase muscle function. This will allow patients to recover more quickly and safely from their procedures.
5. Physical Therapy Helps You Stay Active
Many people who avoid exercise and stay inactive for long periods of time end up with stiff muscles, weak joints, and decreased strength and stamina. It can be difficult to get motivated to exercise, but staying active is important for overall health and happiness.
A physical therapist can help you improve your fitness and increase your energy level. They may suggest an exercise program that focuses on strengthening your core, improving your range of motion and increasing your flexibility.
Conclusion
In addition to helping you stay active Physical Therapy Clinic, physical therapy can also reduce your risk of injuries and pain. This is because physical therapists treat the root cause of your problem, rather than just masking the symptoms.
