As the New Year begins, many of us are looking for ways to stay healthy, fit, and energetic. Physical Therapy treatment can be a great option for anyone seeking to recover from pain or injuries that limit their activity level. Through exercise and movement-based activities, physical therapy can help you heal and strengthen your body without relying on medication or invasive surgeries. With the right approach and dedication to your recovery program, physical therapy can be an effective means of achieving long-term relief from pain in the New Year.
At Jefferson Orthopedic Clinic, our board-certified physical therapy specialists are committed to top-quality care to help heal your body and restore you to your full potential. Here is how physical therapy can help recover from pain.
What Is PT?
Physical Therapy is a form of medical care that involves the assessment and treatment of physical impairments, disabilities, and other conditions caused by injury or disease. It is a beneficial approach to health care that combines exercise, manual therapy, mobility education, patient education, assistive technology, and other practices to restore joint and muscle function. Physical therapists design individualized patient-specific plans emphasizing specific goals such as strength, balance, endurance, coordination, and physical function.
They also provide guidance in areas such as pain management techniques and making lifestyle modifications necessary to optimize healing response. By focusing on educating patients about their injury/condition and promoting independence in activities of daily living, physical therapists work collaboratively with other medical professionals to maximize a patient’s current level of functioning and overall quality of life.
How Do I Know If I Need PT?
If you’ve recently suffered an injury or have had a medical condition for some time, it can be difficult to know if physical therapy is a necessary approach. While physical therapy is not suitable for all conditions, it can be beneficial in several scenarios such as:
- You have sustained an injury or are suffering from pain due to age or lifestyle.
- You want to prevent or lessen the risk of further injury.
- Your regular activities are becoming difficult to manage.
- You’ve undergone surgery and are in need of recovery.
- You want to manage ongoing pain due to illness or disability.
It is important to talk to your primary care physician to determine if physical therapy is right for you. Licensed Physical therapists will provide you with personalized treatment options and will work with you to develop an individualized plan that helps you reach your goals.
How PT Can Help Manage Pain
Physical therapists are experts in pain management and can provide relief through various techniques. Many people suffering from chronic or acute pain may benefit from physical therapy which can help relieve pain, reduce stiffness and tension, and increase range of motion. Physical therapists are trained to assess the source of a patient’s discomfort based on their history and activities, and then develop an individualized plan that works to reduce the pain while preserving strength and endurance.
A physical therapist can also recommend helpful home exercises designed to target weak muscles and improve mobility over time. With proper guidance and professional care from a physical therapist, you can learn the tools necessary to not just manage your current condition but also prevent future setbacks and decrease pain.
Benefits of McKenzie Therapy
At Jefferson Orthopedic, we are the only orthopedic surgeons and physical therapy clinic in the United States that are certified to perform the McKenzie method of physical therapy. McKenzie therapy, also known as Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), is a comprehensive evaluation and treatment system. This approach uses postural analysis, repeated movements, and patient education to treat spinal and extremity pain. While it was originally designed to address back pain, McKenzie’s techniques have been used over the years to treat other sources of musculoskeletal pain. Its main goal is to restore normal function through exercises that increase muscle strength, mobility, flexibility, and endurance while decreasing pain at the same time.
The foundation of this therapy is an initial assessment during which the physical therapist takes a detailed history of the patient’s condition, medical history, as well as their lifestyle habits. The findings from this assessment allow the therapist to identify any abnormal joint motion or restricted movement due to mechanical dysfunction. Through restorative exercises and postural training tailored to each individual’s needs, therapists help patients gain control of their condition with improved posture and body mechanics.
What Are The Benefits of PT?
Physical therapy treatment can offer an array of benefits, from increased mobility and reduced pain to improved overall health. Physical therapists can help you develop strength, flexibility, restore physical function, and balance, which can lead to better performance in daily activities. They also provide education about healthy lifestyle changes that are tailored to your needs. For people with chronic conditions such as arthritis or other joint ailments, physical therapy exercises can reduce pain and improve range of motion.
By improving muscle strength and flexibility through stretching techniques, physical therapists not only reduce pain but also decrease the risk of future injuries as well. Additionally, they can provide guidance on how to prevent further injuries by recommending exercises that are best suited for each individual's fitness level.
With a personalized treatment plan tailored to the individual’s lifestyle habits and needs, physical therapy not only helps with immediate pain relief and management but also prevents future setbacks. Many people find that by incorporating physical therapy into their lives they are able to live healthier and happier.
If you are suffering with pain management or feel as if physical therapy may be beneficial to you, contact our board-certified specialists at Jefferson Orthopedic or schedule a consultation directly from our website today!
