If you sustain a sports injury or struggle with an orthopedic problem, your doctor might recommend physical therapy. Physical therapy is an effective way to relieve pain and restore function. It is not a standalone treatment and is typically part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is a powerful form of physical medicine and rehabilitation that can help promote, maintain, or restore physical health and function. Physical therapists or pain management doctors may provide treatment through the following methods:
- Customized exercise plans
- Heat and cold therapy
- Manual therapy
- Electrical stimulation
- Ultrasound therapy
Benefits of Physical Therapy
Going to a physical therapy clinic can help you achieve better overall health and well-being. Prevention and refinement of movement can help you with healthy and active aging. Physical therapy can also be helpful in severe conditions, whether you need surgery or not.
Below are some of the benefits of going to a physical therapy clinic.
Eliminate Or Reduce Pain
Physical therapists can reduce pain from an orthopedic problem or sports injury by designing a personalized exercise plan. They can walk you through specific exercises and stretches that relieve pain while considering the limitations imposed on you by any conditions you might have. Exercise is one of the most effective ways to eliminate or reduce pain, since it releases endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers.
Your physical therapist will also focus on strengthening your muscles to reduce the risk of re-injury. Strengthening exercises usually occur in the latter stage of your physical therapy plan.
They can also use heat and ice therapies to soothe sore muscles or control inflammation. Massages and other manual therapy techniques can help relieve the pain while maintaining muscular and joint functions.
Restore Normal Function
If you get injured, you may find that you’re unable to do some activities that you used to do before. For instance, you might find it hard to straighten your leg or put your weight on the affected knee.
In addition to the exercise plan, your physical therapist will also teach proper body mechanics. They will demonstrate how to carry and position yourself without putting the injured body part under excessive strain. These exercises can help you get back to the things you need to function in life.
Improve Endurance
In addition to muscle strengthening, your physical therapist will also walk you through endurance exercises. These physical endurance exercises will not only improve your muscular endurance, they can also maintain the endurance and capacity of your heart and lungs.
Regain Your Mobility And Range Of Motion
Having an injury or disability can limit your body’s ability to move and remain flexible. Luckily, physical therapists know how to help you regain your mobility. They can provide stretching and range-of-motion exercises to help you move freely again.
Improve Your Balance And Prevent Falls
Balance and coordination is also an essential skill that you may have to relearn after an injury. To help prevent falls and maintain balance, physical therapists can provide balance training exercises. They could also recommend assistive devices like canes and walkers to give you more balance and stability.
Reduce Reliance On Expensive/Addictive Medications
While medications can provide some form of pain relief, overreliance on drugs can cause harmful side effects. Physical therapy is a non-drug method that relies on physical training and other manual techniques to relieve pain and restore function. While it is not a standalone treatment, physical therapy can help reduce reliance on medications and complement other therapeutic modalities in your treatment plan.
Assist You Before And After Surgery
For people who no longer respond to conservative treatments, surgery may be unavoidable. Physical therapy is a vital part of the preparation for and recovery from many surgical procedures. After surgery, your physical therapist can design an exercise plan to speed up healing and get you back to normal.
Physical Therapy Clinic in Blue Springs, MO
Physical therapy has numerous benefits for people from all walks of life. With physical therapy, your bodily pain and physical limitations will no longer stop you from doing the things you love. Visit your trusted physical therapy clinic today to learn more about how they can help you regain your physical abilities.
If you’re looking for physical therapy clinics near you, look no further than Core Medical Center. Enjoy the benefits of high-quality physical therapy from our skilled pain management doctors.
Our clinic is in Blue Springs, MO. Get in touch with our friendly staff via calling our office at (816) 427-0201 . You can also fill out our online appointment request form. We look forward to serving you soon!
