Physical therapy most often is prescribed following an accident or injury, or as part of the recovery process after a surgical procedure to help restore function and mobility, and minimize or eliminate pain. Some people may even undergo physical therapy as a means of injury prevention. When it comes to physical therapy, the benefits are many. Here are but a few of the benefits you can be afforded with physical therapy.
Treating Underlying Conditions
Pain just doesn’t appear without a reason. Whether it’s for an acute injury or chronic condition like arthritis, physical therapy will treat the cause of the pain and teach the right ways to engage in activities to ensure you don’t injure yourself further.
Education
Physical therapy treatment doesn’t cease when you finish your session. Physical therapists are experts at educating their patients on how best to regain strength and range of motion, offering tips and exercises that can be performed at home or work to sustain the progress made while under treatment.
It’s Collaborative
It’s important that your physical therapist receive an accurate diagnosis and understand fully the nature of your condition. It’s also critical that he know any additional conditions or scenarios that could impact the success of treatment. Expect your physical therapist to be a valued member of your treatment team, meaning that the lines of communication between your primary care doctor, orthopedist and even coach will remain open in a collaborative treatment effort.
It’s Not Just Stretching
Physical therapy treatment is not only about stretching. Physical therapists use a variety of treatments – from hands-on therapeutic massage to improve circulation, to using a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit to promote production of pain-relieving endorphins. They are also experts at helping you overcome occupational injuries that may prevent you from performing your job.
It can prevent surgery
Before undergoing a surgical procedure, your orthopedist may recommend physical therapy as part of a more conservative treatment plan. Techniques like dry needling can relieve pain caused by trigger points. Proper bracing, exercise and stretching can alleviate tendonitis pain and even strengthen the tendon.
It can help before surgery too
Not all conditions or accidents require surgery, but for those that do, physical therapist can offer pre-op consultations to review your diagnosis and help you understand what to expect post-op. They can help you navigate the complexities of using post-op equipment, such as braces, crutches and splints; they can also devise a pre-op exercise program to help you strengthen muscles, ligaments and tendons that can speed up post-op recovery.
A great addition to a training program
When treated as a preventive measure, physical therapy serves an athlete well preventing injury, reducing risk of painful flare ups, and providing access to therapeutic medical techniques and technologies that help reduce pain.
Austin’s Best Physical Therapy
The benefits of physical therapy are many, and finding the right team of physical therapists is a good first step to overcoming pain and injury. If you are in the greater Austin area, Endeavor Physical Therapy & Wellness offers individualized treatment for your aches, pains and chronic or acute orthopedic conditions. As Austin’s premier outpatient physical and hand therapy clinic, our team of experts provides physical therapy intervention to patients suffering from musculoskeletal injuries pre-operatively or postoperatively – from the shoulders and spine to your hands, hips and ankles. Interested in learning how Endeavor can help you? Call us today at (512) 284-7192 or request an appointment online to begin your road to wellness.
