Physical therapy is an incredibly useful pursuit for people in all walks of life. Most people picture physical therapy as a remedy for someone working to overcome a new or existing pain issue, and while we certainly help people manage discomfort, physical therapy has so many benefits beyond pain relief. In today’s blog, we explore some of the reasons patients seek out physical therapy other than for pain management.
Why People Pursue Physical Therapy
The pursuit of pain-free movement is one of the most common reasons why people pursue physical therapy, but it’s certainly not the only reason why patients seek out our services. Some of the non-pain related issues we can help prevent and treat include:
- Fall Prevention – Falls are the leading cause of hospitalization among senior citizens, and being able to remain upright is crucial for maintaining your independence and a higher quality of life as you get older. Whether you’re trying to regain balance and strength following a joint replacement procedure or you’re dealing with vision changes that are complicating your ability to maintain your balance, we can help you overcome these challenges and decrease your fall risk. From a baseline assessment to the development of an individualized physical therapy program, we’re confident that we can tailor a PT program to your needs so that you can stay upright and independent for years to come.
- Athletic Excellence – We also work with athletes every single day to help them take their game to the next level. Sometimes we’re working with them to overcome an injury or recover following a surgical procedure, but you don’t have to be an injured athlete to benefit from physical therapy. If you want to make the varsity team, shed seconds off your mile time or simply become the best version of your athletic self, sync up with a physical therapist. We can develop a strength training program or a conditioning routine that targets your sport-specific goals. Whether you’re looking for a program that meshes with your in-season sport demands or you want to continue improving with the help of an offseason program, let us build a PT plan that’s right for you.
- Surgery Avoidance – Rehabbing patients after a surgical procedure is quite common at our clinic, but we also work with patients who are attempting to prevent the need for surgery. Whether you’re dealing with a bulging disc in your spine or an arthritic knee joint, we will work to target these areas with strength training and mobility exercises so that enough function is restored that surgery can be delayed or even outright prevented. Not only can PT help you avoid the discomfort and extended recovery associated with a surgical correction, but it can also save you a lot of money, as surgery and an extended rehabilitation will be much costlier than early physical therapy intervention.
- General Lifestyle Improvements – Finally, physical therapy is a great option for patients who find that certain aspects of their life are becoming more difficult for one reason or another. If reaching upwards is difficult because of a frozen shoulder condition, if knee stiffness is making your weekly bicycle rides uncomfortable, or you’re simply shying away from activities you once loved because of physical limitations, let us help you overcome these challenges. We want you to live life to the fullest, and if stiffness, mobility restrictions, dizziness, headaches or any other physical issues are forcing you to be less active than you’d like, physical therapy may be the answer. We can target your specific issues and help you get back to living an active life.
We can help with a host of health conditions and non-pain issues, so connect with our team if you’re facing a new or existing physical challenge. For more information, or to set up an appointment with our team, give OrthoRehab Specialists a call today at (612) 339-2041.