Every October is National Physical Therapy Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness of physical therapy (PT) as a safe, effective alternative to medication for the treatment of chronic pain conditions.
When you are in pain, sometimes the last thing you want to do is get moving, but PT can be an essential part of pain management. It can be used to alleviate sources of chronic pain, including:
- Sports injuries
- Muscular dystrophy
- Back and neck pain
- Limited range of motion
- Osteoporosis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Knee ligament injury
- and so much more!
Physical therapy benefits
A customized PT program can help individuals return to their prior level of functioning and encourage lifestyle changes that can help prevent further injury. In honor of National Physical Therapy month, here are some ways physical therapy may benefit you:
Reduce or eliminate pain
PT interventions can treat pain in numerous ways. Therapeutic exercises and manual therapy techniques such as joint and soft tissue mobilization or treatments such as taping, electrical stimulation or ultrasound can help reduce or eliminate pain.
Improve mobility
Not being able to move freely can seriously harm one’s quality of life and make daily actions a much more arduous task. PT is great for individuals who want to recover or improve their mobility after surgery or injury. Techniques such as manual therapy and stretching methods can specifically target locations on the body that may be preventing individuals from moving properly.
Avoid surgery
Before you undergo expensive or invasive surgery, you should consider PT. While physical therapy can’t heal everything, it can be just as effective as surgery in some cases, including meniscal tears and knee osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, rotator cuff tears, and degenerative disc disease.
Recover from or prevent a sports injury
Physical therapists are aware of how different sports can increase your risk for specific injuries. Coping with sports injuries often requires physical rehabilitation, which is why physical therapy is a great option. Physical therapists are trained to help patients recover following an injury. As part of physical therapy, they can teach exercises, stretches, and techniques using specialized equipment to address problems.
To learn more about the benefits of physical and whether it’s a good option for you, contact our multi-speciality team at Comprehensive Medical Care.
