Physical therapists support patients through every stage of the healing process, from diagnosis through recovery and after. Physical therapy is sometimes offered as a stand-alone service, or it may occur in conjunction with other forms of treatment If your doctor has recommended PT or you're curious whether it might help you, keep reading. We're going to discuss four ways physical therapy can make a difference in your life.
How physical therapy can make a difference for you
1. Injury recovery ” If you've spent some time not using your legs or another body part after an injury, a physical therapist can help you regain strength and flexibility in that body part. They'll walk you through therapeutic exercises designed to help you start using your whole body again. PT helps you stay active, which can prevent or reverse muscle atrophy. 2. Pain management ” People suffering from arthritis and other chronic pain disorders may find that physical therapy helps to reduce the severity of their symptoms. Strength and flexibility training helps in this regard, but your therapist may also apply manual therapy techniques to relieve tension in strained muscles and increase circulation to painful areas, resulting in decreased pain. 3. Balance improvement ” One of the lesser-known ways physical therapy can make a difference is in regard to balance. Therapists work with patients at a high risk of falling or sprained ankles to strengthen their legs and hips for added support. This can help aging people and those who've suffered from head injuries to live safer lives with a decreased chance of falling. 4. Surgery alternative ” Some injuries require surgery, but physical therapy may be an alternative to surgery in cases where pain relief is the primary goal. It's possible that a combination of PT exercises, manual therapy and lifestyle changes could offer the same benefits you'd get from invasive surgery (without having to go under the knife).
Do I need physical therapy?
Now that we've discussed the ways physical therapy can make a difference for people, you may be asking yourself this question: Do I actually need physical therapy? Take that question to your general physician, or call a physical therapy clinic in your area for a consultation. As we discussed above, it could definitely help!
Alliance PTP is ready to help you find top-notch PT for any ailment
At Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, we're proudly bringing together physical therapy practices across the country to help people get the high-quality PT they need. Want to see a physical therapist in person? We can put you in touch with an Alliance PTP partner that's close to you and that can help you address your specific needs. Not keen on in-person PT sessions or not close to an Alliance PTP partner? No worries. We also offer effective and affordable virtual physical therapy through our Agile Virtual Physical Therapy platform. Contact our team today so we can help you find the most effective physical therapy services for your injury or condition.