Physical therapy is a great resource that helps you heal from injuries and conditions that damage internal parts of your body. It also helps with healing after surgery. But the benefits of physical therapy don’t stop there. Physical therapy has a lot of long-term benefits that can ensure you remain healthy and functioning for years to come. Here are some of the long-lasting benefits you can enjoy from physical therapy.
Increased Strength and Endurance
Most physical therapy programs include strengthening exercises that can help rebuild the strength of the muscles. Some examples of strengthening exercises are lateral walks, leg raises, leg presses, squats, and supine twists.
Moreover, physical therapy programs may also include breathing exercises that can improve heart and lung health, as well as increase endurance. And any physical activity that gets your heart pumping can benefit your respiratory health and improve endurance.
If you are hospitalized or post-operative, your strength and endurance may be reduced due to limited physical activity. If prolonged, it can compromise muscle strength, which is why rehabilitation will always include physical therapy exercises.
Improved Balance and Mobility
For post-operative patients who have undergone surgeries such as joint replacement surgery, rehabilitation includes physical therapy exercises that restore range of motion and improve balance and mobility. With poor balance, you are at risk of falls and injuries.
Particularly for surgeries on load-bearing joints, physical therapy is highly beneficial in strengthening your core muscles and the muscles surrounding the site of the operation. Some examples are leg raises, standing knee bends, and ankle pumps.
Faster Recovery From Surgery
Pre-operation physical therapy exercises help you prep for the surgery and make your recovery process easier and shorter. Your physical therapist will teach you the right exercises that target specific muscles, particularly around the surgery site. Strengthen the surrounding muscles, and it will benefit your functionality in the long run. Ultimately, it puts you in the best possible shape for surgery.
Pain Relief and Reduced Risk of Opioid Dependence
The opioid crisis is a national concern, and physical therapy has proved itself to be a powerful non-pharmacologic force in the fight against it. In a study by researchers at the Stanford University of Medicine, patients who undergo physical therapy soon after being diagnosed with pain are less likely to over-rely on opioids for pain relief. And those who do, end up needing less of the drug and using it for a shorter duration, most likely owing to the pain-relieving effects of physical therapy.
With a pain management program that includes a healthy alternative such as physical therapy, patients are less likely to be reliant on opioids, which reduces the risk of getting addicted to drugs.
Physical Therapy in Austin, Texas
Are you ready to reap the benefits of physical therapy? At Endeavor Physical Therapy, our physical therapists provide highly individualized outpatient physical therapy services and workers’ compensation services for pre-operative and post-operative patients. Our goal is to help you recover fast from your condition or injury.
To request an appointment, call Endeavor Physical Therapy at (512)-284-7192 or request an appointment now. We are happy to hear from you!
