You may know the importance and benefits of physical therapy if you have ever experienced pain, an injury or orthopaedic surgeries. For those who are not familiar with physical therapy, I’d like to share some insights on how it can help you.

Physical therapy is an exciting profession that uses scientifically based treatment methods to promote, restore and maintain optimal physical function.

Physical Therapists

  • Diagnose and manage movement disorders and improve physical and functional abilities.
  • Restores, maintains, and promotes not only optimal function, but also optimal fitness, optimal health, and optimal quality of living as it relates movement and health.
  • Preventing the onset of symptoms and progressions of disabilities, impairments and functional limitations that can result from illnesses, disorders or conditions.

You now know what physical therapy involves. It is time to discuss why it is so important for YOU.

Why physical therapy?

Reduce Pain

No one likes to feel pain and the cause is often not obvious. Anyone who has experienced pain, or continues to experience pain, knows how it can affect one’s life. Physical therapy is an effective method of treating both acute and long-term pain. Physical therapy, including soft tissue and joint mobilisation, therapeutic exercises, and other modalities and techniques, have been shown to reduce or eliminate pain, as well as teach patients how to avoid future pain.

Avoid Surgery

Surgery is often the first option patients consider when they experience pain or disability. Physical therapy is an effective way to avoid surgery in some cases, even though surgery may be unavoidable. Physical therapy is the preferred treatment for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Trying it out before going under the blade may help you avoid unnecessary surgery. Even if therapy doesn’t prevent surgery, it is clear that the therapy before surgery can improve postoperative outcomes.

Returning to Activity after Injury

I’ve known many of my physical therapy colleagues who are avid fitness enthusiasts. Combining that with a physical rehabilitation education, you’ll have the perfect person to help get you back to the activities you enjoy. A physical therapist can create a plan that takes into account the physical and healing requirements of the activity.

Preventing Injuries

Physical therapy is often sought after by people who are in pain or have been injured. One aspect that is often overlooked is how physical therapy can help diagnose areas of weakness or poor mobility, which may make a patient more susceptible to injury. A physical therapist will develop a treatment plan to address these areas, reducing the risk of injury. All injuries cannot be avoided, but it’s always better to take proactive measures.

Improve your balance to prevent falls

Falls among the elderly can have a devastating impact on their quality of living. They are common, dangerous and widespread. Over 25% of seniors over 65 years old (and that percentage only increases as you age!) fall at least once this year. At least one fall will occur this year. Many times, the consequences are severe. Physical therapists are able to help prevent falls by evaluating and developing custom treatment plans that include exercises for improving strength, mobility and balance. Patients and their families can also be educated on simple ways to prevent falls at home.

It would be difficult to cover all the benefits of physical therapists in a short article. However, I hope that this post has provided some information to those who might not have been aware of their importance. I’ve seen first-hand the benefits of Atlas Physical Therapy as a person who has both worked in the field and been a patient. You can ask your doctor or orthopedist for more information about whether physical therapy will be beneficial to you. Or, you can come to one of our offices to speak with us.