Vigorbuddy.com | What You Should Know About Physical Therapy Treatments | While certain pain management professionals like chiropractors may be well known, not everyone is aware of the ins and outs of physical therapy treatments. After all, what can a physical therapist do that a personal trainer can’t?
The truth is that physical therapy is a great resource for a huge range of health conditions. What’s more, it’s a popular option as well. Estimates suggest that the average physical therapy clinic sees between 101-200 patients every week!
However, if you’re on the fence about this form of treatment—or if you still aren’t sure what it entails—here’s everything you should know.
What Is Physical Therapy?
First things first: what is physical therapy, anyway? Physical therapy is when a trained professional helps a patient by evaluating their physical condition and prescribing treatment.
This treatment often includes exercises that help build a patient’s overall strength and range of motion. For additional information, click here to learn more about physical therapy.
Who Needs Physical Therapy Treatments?
Patients who benefit from physical therapy include people who have some kind of abnormal physical function.
This abnormal function can be the result of an accident or injury. It can also be due to a disease, disability, or other health condition. In some cases, especially with sedentary workers or people who labor for a living, the abnormal function may be the result of poor posture when working.
In other words, patients in need of physical therapy come in a wide spectrum according to age, physical health, gender, and more. Some patients may be older and in hospice, for example, while others may be athletes who need help with sports and fitness injuries.
Why Consider Physical Therapy?
It’s worth noting that patients with injuries or other health conditions may have a range of options available to them—so why choose physical therapy?
Physical therapy can be a great first recourse for injuries or pain. It can help you treat your condition without the use of prescription opioids and other pain management drugs, and it can also help you avoid surgery for major injuries.
In the long-term, physical therapy can also help you improve your strength, balance, range of motion, and more.
What Happens During Physical Therapy Treatment?
The first step in any physical therapy treatment is the diagnosis. Even if the patient comes to the physical therapist with a doctor’s diagnosis, a physical therapist will have their patients go through a physical exam. This exam will test the patient’s posture, range of motion, joint function, and more.
After the exam, the physical therapist will lay out a treatment plan to help the patient care for their condition. In most cases, this will involve both inpatient appointments and self-care instructions for use outside the therapist’s office.
Get the Help You Need Today
Physical therapy treatments can be an effective resource for a huge range of patients and conditions, so it’s well worth the effort of a little research. If you’re in need of help with pain management, consider asking your doctor whether they can refer you to a skilled physical therapist. With a few simple therapy sessions, you might find that your condition improves in no time!
Looking for more of the health tips you need? Check out our other posts for additional guides like this one.
