The benefits of physical therapy are extensive whether you are dealing with an acute injury, a chronic medical condition, a post-surgery rehab, or wanting to improve your overall physical health and fitness condition.
You may have had physical therapy for a specific issue like shoulder pain, or to help you heal from knee or hip surgery, or know someone who has. However, there may be benefits that you may not know.
If you want to know how physical therapy can benefit you, keep reading. We will discuss why physical therapy is crucial for athletes, active adults, seniors, parents, and other busy professionals to help improve your health and quality of life.
What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is one of the best rehabilitative tools for anyone who wants to improve quality of life, restore mobility, improve range of motion, decrease pain, strengthen their body, and improve performance on and off the field.
Physical therapists are highly trained medical professionals who have studied targeting techniques to treat conditions affecting patients’ musculoskeletal systems. They are trained to work with patients of all ages using manual therapy, prescribed exercises and stretches, patient education, cupping, dry needling, and joint mobilization.
Physical therapy is offered in hospitals, rehab centers, outpatient clinics, sports physical therapy specialists, fitness and occupational settings, and more.
How to Find an Experienced Physical Therapist Near You
There are several possible ways to find a qualified physical therapist in Fort Collins, CO, including:
- Ask friends and family for recommendations
- Ask business associates for recommendations
- Ask your doctor
- Search online for the “best physical therapist near me.”
Goals of Physical Therapy
Your physical therapist will create a personalized treatment plan to help you achieve your goals. Usually, a patient’s primary physical therapy goals include restoring functional movement and improving quality of life.
The goals of physical therapy may include:
- Increasing range of motion and overall flexibility
- Improving functionality
- Reducing and eliminating pain in your neck, back, hips and knees, shoulders, and more
- Rehabilitation after injuries and surgery
- Aiding with proper alignment
- Increasing muscle strength
- Increasing endurance and more
How is Physical Therapy Beneficial?
Whether you have old pain, an acute injury, are recovering from surgery, or have another issue, physical therapy offers significant benefits for people of all ages.
#1. Physical Therapy Helps You Learn How to Move Your Body Best
Moving your body may seem intuitive. However, most of us aren’t taught how to move properly.
An experienced physical therapist can help you learn how to perform movements like picking something up off the floor, running, throwing overhead, or even sitting to ensure you are moving efficiently and helping reduce the risk of injuries and strains.
#2. Physical Therapy Can Improve Mobility and Strength
For individuals struggling with activities like standing, walking, or daily activities or athletes wanting to improve their performance, physical therapy can help to improve strength and mobility. It can help restore your ability to be mobile, and if you are already an active adult, you will notice greater power doing your favorite activities.
#3. Physical Therapy Can Reduce or Eliminate Pain
Techniques such as mobilization, massage, and dry needling can help to relieve pain in your muscles and joints such as ankle pain. Your physical therapist may also recommend ice or heat packs and electrical muscle stimulation and teach you various alternative ways to move your body or exercise therapy to help reduce or eliminate your pain.
#4. Physical Therapy Reduces and Prevents Scar Tissue Build-Up
After surgery or an injury, scar tissue can lead to various issues that physical therapy can help with, including the following:
- Pain
- Restricted range of motion
- Scar pliability
- Scar surface area and thickness
- Pigmentation
#5. Physical Therapy May Help You Avoid Surgery
A trained physical therapist can help you using specialized techniques and minimally invasive procedures to help improve joint function and mobility and strengthen your muscles. You may even avoid elective surgery by working with a physical therapist who can create a personalized treatment program to help you heal and prevent further injuries.
#6. Physical Therapy Improves Healing After Surgery
Sometimes surgery is necessary, and physical therapy can greatly improve your post-surgery outcome if you find yourself in the recovery room. Physical therapy helps increase blood flow to your muscles, heart, lungs, and other vital organs, significantly speeding up healing. It can also boost your mental health and ensure you don’t suffer the effects of scar tissue buildup.
#7. Physical Therapy Helps Other Medical and Age-Related Issues
Working with a physical therapist can help you improve many medical conditions, including the following:
- Diabetes and vascular issues, improving sensations and feeling in the legs and feet
- Age-related problems, including osteoporosis, arthritis, balance, weight, joints and muscles, and more
- Heart and lung disease issues, such as pulmonary issues, can improve muscle strength and endurance, decrease shortness of breath, and improve quality of life and help you carry out daily activities easier
#8. Physical Therapy Supports Neurological Conditions
Patients with neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and stroke, and other spinal cord injuries have shown improvement from receiving physical therapy. Researchers noted that patients saw reduced falls and improved gait performance and walking for up to six months after physical therapy.
Many patients with multiple sclerosis experience improvement and a reduction of their symptoms, including weakness, coordination, balance, flexibility, aerobic endurance, respiratory function, and fatigue, when they receive physical therapy.
Patients recovering from strokes receive rehabilitation and spine injury treatment before going home to ensure they can function optimally.
#9. Physical Therapy Improves Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Several things can affect your pelvic floor muscles, including pregnancy, birth, menopause, abdominal surgeries, and other conditions that alter intra-abdominal pressure or the tension on your pelvic floor muscles.
If your muscles become significantly damaged, your pelvic floor muscles can become weaker and lose their ability to fully support your pelvic organs, causing urinary leakage, sexual dysfunction, prolapse, pelvic pressure, and back pain. Pelvic floor physical therapy can greatly improve the symptoms and condition of pelvic floor disorders and your quality of life.
#10. Physical Therapy Helps With Sports-Related Injuries
Athletes experience many types of injuries, including concussions, tinnitus, knee injuries, overhead throwing injuries, and more. Physical therapy cannot only strengthen your muscles and improve your range of motion, but it can also help you heal from sports-related injuries.
Make the Most Out of Your Physical Therapy Treatments
We have several tips to offer you to ensure that you receive optimal benefits for the time and energy you put into your physical therapy.
- Be active in your treatment plan, including bringing all your notes and records from your doctor, a list of questions or concerns, and any goals you want to achieve.
- Ask your physical therapist questions such as how many visits per week you should come, the treatment duration, what you should expect during sessions, and any concerns to watch for or exercises to continue after your treatment.
- Talk openly with your physical therapist if you experience discomfort or pain while doing a specific exercise so they can adjust your exercise routine or program as needed.
Are You Ready To Improve Your Quality of Life and Health? UpSlope Physical Therapy & Performance Is Here To Help You
Physical therapy offers an ideal alternative to more invasive treatments and is highly beneficial in more ways than expected.
At UpSlope Physical Therapy & Performance, we understand that everyone’s needs are different, and we will ensure to create a physical therapy treatment program to help address your unique goals and improve your quality of life.
Contact us today to get you on the road to recovery and being active once again.
