Physical Therapy: Everything You Need to Know

If you get an injury from sports or an accident, you may feel excruciating pain or lose your mobility, thus requiring different treatment approaches. Physical therapy is an effective way to speed up healing, especially when you have mobility issues. However, if you lack the correct information, you may not know when you need this type of treatment unless recommended.



So, have you ever wondered if you need physical therapy? This article provides answers to your questions about the practice.

What Is Physical Therapy?

Patients use physical therapy to improve their mobility and reduce pain. You might require physical therapy for impaired mobility due to injury, old age, or illness. For example, since fractures and spinal cord injuries affect your ability to move around, you need special exercises to regain your flexibility.

You can also use physical therapy as a preventative approach to sports-related injuries. For example, some athletes hire physical therapists to help prevent injuries by identifying weaknesses or muscle imbalances.

Where Can I Get Physical Therapy?

While most people find physical therapists through referrals from their doctors, you can freely visit these professionals whenever you feel that you need their services. Since a physical therapist's primary role is to help people recover from injuries and mobility-related issues, you can find them in places where the injured go for treatment.

Most physical therapists work at nursing homes and hospitals, but you can also request at-home services if you cannot move.

What Should I Expect During My First Appointment?

Like any other health practitioner, a physical therapist starts their sessions with questions about your health. The information you provide helps these professionals determine whether they can benefit from physical therapy or not.

A physical examination is the other step after health evaluation and medical history review. Here, the therapist checks your body physically to understand your pain and your type of injuries. Also, to evaluate your strength and flexibility, therapists can stretch your joints or make some movements. This step helps your therapist come up with a tailor-made treatment.

Lastly, your therapist will begin treatment immediately. The first treatment approach depends on your condition. For example, if pain affects your mobility, the therapist will first devise ways to minimize pain.

What Treatment Plans Should I Expect?

Once your therapist identifies a treatment plan for your condition, they choose some activities to help you recover. You can perform some of these activities at the clinic and others at home. Here are some of these therapies.

Therapeutic Modalities

These techniques can help you gain mobility and strength by improving your blood flow, increasing relaxation, and managing your pain. Your therapist can use different mediums, including ice, heat, laser, ultrasound, and water, to get the desired results.

Exercise

Since exercise is the primary treatment approach in physical therapy, your therapist can recommend exercises like stretches to help you regain your flexibility. These exercises can happen under your therapist's supervision or at home.

Massage and Mobilization

For conditions such as whiplash, your therapist can use massages to promote blood flow and reduce your pain levels. In addition, if you have mobility issues, the therapist can use stretch exercises to improve your flexibility and mobility.

If your doctor refers you to a physical therapist, you may feel anxiety due to a lack of knowledge about the treatment. Use the information above to prepare well for your first physical therapy session, as you will already know what to expect during your first session and after.

At Advanced Physical Therapy, we are dedicated to improving our patients' mobility for a better quality of life. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.