Could You Benefit from Physical Therapy?

If you are recovering from a serious injury, surgery or chronic pain, it’s likely that you need the services of a physical therapist. However, did you know that you don’t have to have a serious ailment to benefit from physical therapy? It’s possible to gain great benefits from physical therapy even if you’re not injured. In fact, as experts in movement, therapists can not only get you back to full movement, but they can help to prevent injury or illness in the future. So, if you’re wondering whether a course of physical therapy could help you, read on to find out more.

What is Physical Therapy? 

Put simply, it’s an essential component for anyone who is recovering from a serious injury, surgery, stroke, nerve damage or for people who are looking to find relief from chronic pain. Whether you’ve been injured in a car accident or on the sports field, physical therapy is likely to be necessary to enable you to return to normal life safely and as quickly as possible.  

The therapists use a range of treatments to prevent, manage and treat injuries and disabilities using non-invasive and non-medical tools. They aim to relieve pain, promote healing and to improve and ultimately restore normal body function and movement. By focusing on body mechanics and ergonomics combined with programs of exercise to improve fitness and wellness, physical therapy offers a solution for everyone even if you simply want to improve your everyday mobility. 

Who Will Benefit from Physical Therapy? 

There are many reasons for consulting a physical therapist and physical therapy can help people of all ages. However, some of the most common reasons to seek help include:

• Pain in the neck, shoulders or lower back
• Issues with feet, ankles and knees
• Hand and wrist problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome
• Arthritis in the joints whether in a single or multiple joints
• Ligament, tendon and muscle sprains
• Pre- and post-surgery 
• Rehabilitation after a stroke, or following a head or spinal cord injury
• Bone fractures and other orthopedic issues
• Incontinence of either bladder or bowels
• Issues with mobility or balance
• Chronic weakness or fatigue
• To help with recovery from cancer
• Rehab after a cardiac incident
• Pre- and post-partum 
• Respiratory problems
• Sports injuries 
• Work-related injuries

These are just some of the reasons for seeking the services of a physical therapist. Therapists can also provide fitness and wellness education for anyone who is looking to lose weight or for women who want to take steps to prevent osteoporosis as they age. 

Consult Your Local Practitioner

If you’re experiencing chronic pain, a decrease in your range of motion or strength, or you want to reduce the chances of injury and increase your mobility, a physical therapist will be able to help. As highly trained specialists, they understand that no two people are exactly alike, even if they appear to have the same injury or condition so they will work with you to devise a course of care that’s right for you. You’ll find therapists working in a variety of settings, including private clinics, sports clinics, hospitals and nursing homes who will customize a physical therapy program to help you to achieve your goals.

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