Physical therapy isn’t just for rehabilitation or athletes in training. There are many reasons why a person might need the assistance of a physical therapist, including injuries, illnesses, and chronic pain conditions.
We put together a list of five basic indicators that you need to visit a physical therapist. If any of these apply to you, be sure to call Nebraska Orthopaedic Physical Therapy today and set up an appointment with one of our therapists! We’ll have you back up and on your feet, feeling your best in no time.
1. You’re finding that you’re no longer able to do many of the things you used to enjoy doing.
There may not be any specific injury or pain you’re currently experiencing, but you’ve noticed it’s more difficult to do the things you enjoy. This can be one of the most obvious factors when it comes to needing therapy.
Whether it’s due to a chronic condition such as arthritis or general wear and tear on your joints and muscles, physical therapy can help you get back to the activities you love.
2. You’ve been getting hurt more than usual.
Have you noticed you’ve got a lot of aches and pains, or even bruises, from random instances where you’ve been hurt? If you’re pulling muscles often or falling more frequently you would likely benefit from working with a physical therapist.
You may need to learn new ways of warming up or cooling down after your favorite activities to reduce the chance of pulling a muscle or tendon. A trained physical therapist can teach you exercises that can improve your balance and increase overall stability.
3. You’ve got a repetitive use injury.
You may be one of the millions of individuals that sit in the same position, doing the same type of work for hours at a time. This might not seem like an obvious reason to need physical therapy, but when you’re less active, your muscles and joints take the biggest hit.
It doesn’t matter if you’re standing or moving around, moving your body in the same way (such as always lifting or pulling items off of shelves) can result in a repetitive injury. Carpal tunnel or tennis elbow are common injuries that are often caused by repetitive movements.
A physical therapist can teach you simple exercises to treat the condition. A therapist can also show you how to perform repetitive tasks in ways that will prevent future injuries from occurring.
4. You’ve undergone surgery or are about to undergo surgery
Physical therapy is especially important if you have or will spend a significant amount of time lying in a hospital bed. It’s necessary to keep muscles and joints as flexible as possible during the healing process.
After even minor surgery, your body is struggling to heal and recover to its normal state. No matter what type of surgery you’ve just had or have scheduled on the books, physical therapy can help you more quickly regain strength and flexibility.
A physical therapist can also design a program to reduce the amount of scar tissue that forms after surgery. Physical therapy can help you return to your regular routine as quickly as possible.
5. Random sharp pains have been bothering you
Reducing and eliminating any type of ongoing pain will enable you to more fully participate and enjoy your daily activities. Sharp pain, especially if it’s ongoing, maybe a sign of a serious injury. It could be a pulled muscle or possibly a stress fracture. The sooner an injury is treated the more likely it will heal quickly.
There is also the chance that an injury will get worse if it is not treated in a timely manner. A physical therapist can do an evaluation and get you started on a treatment program to treat the root cause of your pain.
What benefits does physical therapy offer?
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, physical therapy can help not only with overall wellness, but also injury prevention.
A physical therapist is a movement specialist, educated in analyzing mobility issues with walking, running, jumping, bending, stretching, and almost every other form of physical activity. Our physical therapist can pinpoint problem areas and create a customized treatment plan aimed at improving those areas.
The purpose of physical therapy remains the same regardless of why you find yourself calling our office! Perhaps you are still suffering from the lingering pain of an injury. Perhaps you are recovering from surgery and trying to get your range of motion back. Maybe you’ve noticed it’s just not as easy for you to navigate as it used to be.
Whatever the case may be, physical therapists are dedicated to relieving your pain and getting you back to your peak level of physical health.
Through in-office sessions and at-home exercises, patients strengthen their muscles and joints, improve their balance, build endurance, and experience pain relief, all without the unwanted harmful risks of drugs or surgery.
Ready to get started on your path to recovery?
Everything from injuries and surgery to repetitive use and even aging may require physical therapy to get you moving as efficiently as possible.
An individualized physical therapy program can also reduce or even eliminate pain. Physical therapy can help people of all ages live healthier, more active lives. What are you waiting for? Contact Nebraska Orthopaedic Physical Therapy today to learn more about how our treatment programs can benefit your overall health.
