Musculoskeletal physical therapists treat injuries caused by work, daily activities and more. They use stretches, exercises, joint mobilization and strength training to help patients move better.
Emphasizing the significance of physical therapy for individuals across all age groups, https://laclinicasc.com plays a crucial role. It contributes to enhancing balance and reducing the risk of falls, particularly in older adults, rectifies posture, and effectively manages pain along with chronic conditions.
1. Increased Flexibility
Physical therapy is designed to increase the range of motion in joints and muscles. This flexibility decreases pain and increases the ability to exercise more easily.
A physical therapist will develop a personalized treatment plan for you that includes stretches and exercises you can do at home. This is key to reducing pain and preventing future injuries. Follow your PT’s instructions, and avoid skipping out on exercises or doing more than what is recommended.
Another way physical therapists improve flexibility is by monitoring patients’ balance to prevent falls, especially in older adults. They may also offer assistive devices to improve stability and safety.
2. Increased Strength
Whether you are recovering from an injury or dealing with chronic pain, physical therapy can help alleviate it. Manual therapy treatments like soft tissue mobilization, electric stimulation and ultrasound reduce pain and improve joint and muscle function.
They can also help prevent falls and manage age-related issues. A physical therapist can assess a person’s balance and provide exercises or assistive devices to promote safer walking.
In addition, physical therapists often give patients at-home exercises to perform between sessions. It’s important to follow these instructions and be honest if an exercise isn’t working. This allows the therapist to make adjustments and see results. This is called open communication and it’s an essential part of a successful treatment plan.
3. Better Sleep
Sleep is vital to our overall health, and a good night’s rest can improve the quality of your physical therapy. Your therapist can teach you proper postural alignment for sleeping and prescribe exercises that will promote relaxation for better sleep.
Sleep has a significant impact on immune function and tissue healing, pain modulation and perception, depression and anxiety, stress management and motor skill learning. Sleep disturbance is common among people receiving physical therapy for spinal cord injury, neck and back pain, and neurologic conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson disease.
This survey provides insight into PTs’ attitudes towards sleep and their perception of the need to assess their clients’ sleep habits. Hopefully, this information will inspire them to have more conversations with their patients and clients about sleep and its role in recovery.
4. Reduced Pain
Whether it’s for chronic pain or injuries, physical therapy helps reduce that pain and discomfort through specific movements and exercises. It can even help manage lasting pain, or in some cases, eliminate it altogether.
PT can target the root cause of your pain by analyzing your strength imbalances, posture and flexibility. They can also use techniques like TENS and ultrasound to block pain messages that go to your brain.
One study found that people who had regular physical therapy sessions and incorporated those movements into their daily lives were less likely to take opioids for pain. That’s an important benefit considering the current opioid crisis.
5. Increased Energy
A physical therapist’s ultimate goal is to get you moving more throughout the day. They may recommend you to stand up and walk around for a bit every hour or take a few stretches throughout the day to help relieve pain, improve posture, and increase strength.
Physical therapy is also great for reducing sedentary lifestyles that can lead to many health problems including heart disease, obesity, depression, and diabetes. One-on-one physical therapy can teach you techniques to add more movement into your daily life to prevent future injuries and reduce pain from chronic conditions. You’ll feel better overall!.
6. Increased Confidence
A physical therapist helps improve how much (and how comfortably) you move. They can also help you manage pain, stiffness or discomfort by strengthening and loosening the muscles that support your body.
PT includes exercises and treatments that include massages, heat or cold therapy and other treatments using physical stimuli, such as electrical currents or ultrasound. During sessions, patients practice movements that will help them return to their normal life activities.
They often develop home exercise programs that patients can do between physical therapy sessions. This enables them to make a faster and more complete recovery. The key is to stick to the plan!
