The Benefits of Physical Therapy: Healing and Preventing Injuries

For individuals who are having difficulty moving around due to pain, loss of range of motion, and/or decreased strength, can incorporating working with a physical therapist help relieve pain and restore function?

Physical Therapy Benefits

Many wonder if they are candidates for physical therapy or if physical therapy can help their injury, ailment, or condition. The answer is yes; most individuals can benefit from physical therapy, whether their condition is a simple ankle sprain or a complex neurological disorder. Physical therapists can help develop pain management treatment strategies and injury prevention. Physical therapy can benefit individuals even if they are not injured; as movement experts, physical therapists can train individuals to help prevent injury and maintain flexibility.

Body Mechanics

Physical therapists work in various settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, sports, and chiropractic clinics. If necessary, they can come to your house after an injury. They work with individuals from all walks of life as a conservative treatment approach to managing, healing, and preventing injuries and disabilities. Physical therapy uses non-invasive tools to help improve total body function. Physical therapy focuses on:

• Relieving pain
• Promoting healing
• Restoring function
• Restoring movement
• Facilitation and adaptation for a specific injury.
• Therapy also focuses on body mechanic training, fitness, and wellness. (Hon, S. et al., 2021)
• Regardless of age, individuals who have problems with flexibility and mobility may benefit from working with a physical therapist to help them return to optimal function.

Conditions Physical Therapy Can Help Treat

• Muscle sprains and strains.
• Work-related injuries.
• Repetitive motion injuries.
• Sports-related injuries.
• Neck pain.
• Lower back pain.
• Neuro-rehabilitation – post-stroke and spinal cord or head injury.
• Arthritis – in one or multiple joints.
• Mobility problems.
• Balance issues.
• Knee, ankle, and foot problems.
• Shoulder, arm, hand, and wrist injuries and problems.
• Fractures.
• Slip and fall accidents and other traumas.
• Orthopedic conditions.
• Chronic fatigue.
• Chronic weakness.
• Pre and post-surgical conditioning and strengthening.
• Wound care like diabetic wounds and non-healing traumatic or post-surgical wounds.
• Pre – during pregnancy and post-partum programs.
• Fitness and wellness education.
• Poor cardiovascular endurance.
• Cardiac rehabilitation.
• Respiratory problems.
• Bowel or bladder incontinence.
• Cancer recovery.

Individuals unsure whether they need or would benefit from physical therapy should discuss their options with a primary physician, healthcare provider, or specialist to guide them in the right direction. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic focuses on what works for you and strives to better the body through researched methods and total wellness programs. Using an integrated approach, we treat patients’ injuries and chronic pain syndromes through personalized care plans that improve ability through flexibility, mobility, and agility programs personalized to the individual to relieve pain. If other treatment is needed, Dr. Jimenez has teamed up with the top surgeons, clinical specialists, medical researchers, and premier rehabilitation providers to provide the most effective treatments.

Unlocking Vitality

References

Hon, S., Ritter, R., & Allen, D. D. (2021). Cost-Effectiveness and Outcomes of Direct Access to Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders Compared to Physician-First Access in the United States: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Physical therapy, 101(1), pzaa201. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzaa201