Last Updated on January 1, 2024 by Flavia Calina
Physical therapy is often the first step in improving the quality of life after a health condition or injury. It helps patients regain normal function, reduce pain and discomfort, and increase movement tolerance.
The physical therapist will apply therapeutic massage or electrical stimulation during a session. They also teach patients exercises to improve mobility, coordination, and muscle strength.
Strengthening
A primary goal of physical therapy, like in Sage Physical Therapy pelvic floor specialist Denver, is to help patients move better and strengthen weakened muscles. This can be done through active exercises, massages, or treatments based on physical stimuli like heat, cold, or electrical currents.
Even seemingly simple movements can lead to injuries if they’re performed the wrong way. For example, bending over to pick something up off the floor could put too much stress on your back and cause a sprain. A physical therapist can teach you to bend over and lift things correctly to reduce your risk of injury.
In many cases, physical therapy can reduce pain and inflammation enough that surgery isn’t needed. However, it’s important to continue attending physical therapy sessions to ensure you heal correctly and reduce your risk of future injury.
Flexibility
Flexibility is critical to maintaining mobility and reducing pain, especially for people who work or play sports. Physical therapists use stretching exercises and other treatments like muscle and nerve stimulation to improve flexibility and joint movement.
In addition, PTs can teach patients to modify their movements to avoid aggravating an injury or increase their performance. They also help people safely increase their activity level — which can lower the risk of chronic diseases, boost mood, and improve overall quality of life.
A good physical therapist will always take the time to evaluate and understand your injury, symptoms, and lifestyle. Red flags to look out for include skipping appointments, providing vague treatment plans, or failing to reassess your progress. In these cases, it may be best to find another provider.
Balance
A physical therapist can help improve balance and enhance the way you move. They may prescribe postural exercises, muscle and nerve stimulation, and massage to keep muscles healthy. Their treatments can reduce pain and stiffness, minimize the need for surgery or prescription drugs, and reduce activity limitations.
A physical therapist can also teach you safe and effective ways to lift heavy objects, reach high cabinets, and walk on uneven surfaces. They can also offer smoking cessation programs, cardiovascular conditioning, fitness training, mindfulness exercises, and pelvic floor wellness programs. They are movement experts who work with doctors to treat patients of all ages and abilities. Its often work in independent clinics, hospitals, hospice centers, gyms, and doctor offices. They may also travel to homes, schools, and workplaces.
Endurance
Physical therapists can help you build endurance by prescribing exercises and techniques to improve your ability to exert yourself longer and better. This is especially important for athletes and people with physically demanding jobs who are at risk of developing overuse injuries.
PTs also understand how common sports injuries, such as stress fractures for runners. Can occur and can create preventive exercise plans to help you stay safe while enjoying your favorite sport.
Regular attendance is critical to maximizing the benefits of physical therapy care. Following your therapist’s individualized treatment plan, you can control pain, improve balance, coordination, strength, and endurance, and get back to living your best life! Your therapist can answer any questions you have about your treatment or recovery.
Pain Management
Licensed health professionals, also called physical therapists or PTs, perform a thorough exam and work with patients to create individualized treatment plans. These often include exercises or other techniques to reduce pain and improve movement and function.
They may use treatments based on physical stimuli, such as heat or cold therapy, massage, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation to ease pain and improve mobility. They can also teach patients ways to cope with pain and help them identify potential emotional or environmental triggers that can aggravate their discomfort.
PTs can also teach patients to strengthen muscles that support joints, relieving pain and preventing further injury. They can also show patients proper lifting techniques and other activities to avoid strain on injured muscles. Read more exciting articles on Today World Info
