Every year nearly 166 million American adults will incur some form of musculoskeletal injury that could benefit from physical therapy for recovery. These cases can include:
- Sports Injuries
- Work Injuries
- Slipping and falling
- vehicular accidents
Many times people think physical therapy involves inflicting more pain on an injury. This is not true. Although physical therapy can cause soreness in some, the goal is to bring back mobility and strength to you slowly.
Today we’ll explore 5 benefits of physical therapy and why they’re important.
Benefit #1 Recover from Injury
As previously stated, nearly half of all Americans will develop some injury that may benefit from physical therapy. Some of the most common injuries are related to work or sports. Though sometimes an injury may require surgery, some do not. Physical therapy can help in reducing or preventing additional damage done to the injury. Our physical therapists at SOHMA Integrated Medicine of Long Beach, CA, can design an individualized program to help you rebuild strength and regain mobility to the injured area to prevent further injury. Not only does physical therapy help you in recovering from injuries, but it’s also an incredibly useful tool when recovering from surgery.
Benefit #2 Post Surgery Recovery
If an injury requires surgery, physical therapy can shorten post-surgery recovery. Following surgery, your primary care provider may recommend physical therapy depending on the type of surgery performed. This treatment may not be pleasant and lasts for a few weeks or months. However, it has been proven that patients improve their quality of life after surgery.
Benefit #3 Avoid Surgery
In many cases, people feel like the pain will go away on its own, or it’s not so bad that they can’t deal with it. Even minor injuries can cause chronic pain when ignored, so surgery may be required to fix the problem. Physical therapy can reduce pain caused by an injury, heal the injury and ultimately avoid surgery. There are many costs involved with getting surgery aside from the surgery itself. Often you’ll need to do post-surgery physical therapy and lose time and money while unable to work or enjoy life.
Even if surgery is required for some injuries, pre-surgery physical therapy can strengthen the injured area. Going in stronger also reduces the time needed to recover post-surgery.
Benefit #4 Manage Pain
Many people suffer from chronic pain and are unsure how to manage or eliminate it. Typically physical therapy techniques that target the joints and soft tissue can restore muscle and joint function to reduce pain. Unlike working pain with pharmaceuticals that can have many adverse side effects or be addictive, physical therapy uses treatments that include:
- Ultrasound
- Electrical Stimulation
- Weight Training
- Stretching
These techniques restore muscle and joint functions and reduce the chance for the pain to return.
For older adults who suffer from arthritis or osteoporosis or had a joint replaced, a physical therapist can use individualized techniques to help manage pain and regain strength and mobility in their joints.
Benefit #5 Improve Balance and Mobility
As we age, it’s not uncommon to lose mobility and balance. Especially for older adults, poor balance is often more dangerous. A physical therapist can help improve your balance. They will develop a treatment plan to improve the stability, strength, and mobility of patients with balance problems.
Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine
Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health.
Located in Long Beach, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.
We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.
