8 Ways Physical Therapy Can Help You

Physical therapy is one of the most underrated treatments out there. It’s amazing how quick we are to reach for prescription drugs, surgery, and all kinds of other fixes when physical therapy can make such a difference in our lives. It may be hard to believe, but in the hands of a skilled therapist, good old-fashioned body mechanics is extremely beneficial in helping us recover from injuries, prevent falls, improve our mobility, reduce our pain, and so on. 

One common myth that people believe about physical therapy is that it’s only for those who have suffered injuries and accidents. And while it’s true that it has proven advantageous in those situations, physical therapy is effective in so many other situations as well. Here are 8 ways physical therapy can help you.  

Reduce your pain

A physical therapist can provide treatments that include strength and flexibility exercises, manual therapy, posture awareness, and body mechanics instruction that address the underlying causes of your pain. 

Improve your mobility

As you age, your joints often become less flexible. This leads to stiffness and tenderness and makes it more difficult to accomplish daily tasks. Physical therapy is a great solution for increasing flexibility and mobility, and keeping your joints moving to their fullest capacity. 

Improve your balance

Balance and coordination become increasingly important as your bones lose their density with age.  Falls can have a devastating impact on your quality of life. Balance exercises provided by a physical therapist can help keep you on our feet. 

Recover from injuries

After an injury, it can be tempting to stay in bed or on the couch, but in many cases, immobility can actually slow your recovery. On the other hand, it’s inadvisable and potentially dangerous to just get up and resume your normal routine following an injury. A physical therapist will assess your injury and provide exercises, stretches, and instructions that will help you recover faster while preventing risk of further injury. 

Prevent injuries

Strong muscles support your bones and joints, which helps prevent mobility problems and gives you more stability. Your physical therapist can provide you with gentle exercises to strengthen your muscles. Stronger muscles and improved balance will ultimately lower your risk of injury. 

Recover from stroke

Recovering from a stroke can take time.  And during that time, a loss of balance can make walking more difficult and put you at risk for injury from a fall.  Working with a physical therapist can shorten your recovery time and help you regain your mobility and stability faster.  Exercises may include a combination of low-impact strength training, balance and gait exercises, and flexibility/range of motion exercises. 

Avoid surgery

In some cases, physical therapy has proven as effective as surgery for treating certain injuries. One study found that in the treatment of non-traumatic rotator cuff tears, physical therapy produced results equal to arthroscopic surgery and open surgical repair. Depending on the severity of your injury or condition, physical therapy may be a feasible alternative to surgery.

Manage age-related issues

Physical therapy can’t make your arthritis, osteoporosis, or other age-related issues go away. But your physical therapist can help you manage the symptoms and regain your independence and control. Physical therapy may reduce your pain, restore your range of motion, and increase your endurance. Your physical therapist can also develop a plan of weight-bearing exercises to slow down the deterioration of the bones in your legs, hips, and spine. In many cases, the work you do in physical therapy can even rebuild bone density. 

You’ll love our physical therapists

At Bella Vista Health Center in Lemon Grove, our residents receive top quality care that allows them to live their life.  We see physical therapy as a wonderful tool, and we employ the most skilled, compassionate physical therapists who do their best to make a difference in the lives of our patients every single day. 

Come see us, take a tour, and meet our physical therapists. We’re pretty sure you’ll love what you find here.