Physical therapy helps millions of people annually manage their pain and rehabilitate injuries in most cases without the need for potentially addictive pain medications. And oftentimes, physical therapy can help a patient avoid surgery altogether.
Join me as we discover how physical therapy works and how it has helped many in rehabilitation.
What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is a treatment that addresses illness, degenerative disease, or injury limiting a patient’s ability to move or perform daily activities. While many other forms of pain management only cover pain symptoms, physical therapy uses the patient’s history and in-person examination to arrive at a personalized program to help with recovery. Physical therapy most commonly uses stretches, exercises, and movements to manage pain though not exclusively. In recent years physical therapists have employed a variety of new techniques, including:
- Manipulation
- Spinal Traction
- Electric Muscle Stimulators
- Acoustic Sound Wave Therapy
- Hot/Cold Therapy
Physical therapy can be used preventatively by developing a dedicated program to promote wellness and fitness. And it can be used as a treatment for people suffering from acute and chronic pain.
Physical Therapy for Rehabilitation
When using physical rehabilitation therapy, you’ll first talk with your physical therapist to review your history and your injury. Our main goal is to get you back to your previous activity levels. After evaluation, your physical therapist will develop a program tailored to your case. Although every case is different, the target is the same, to prevent further injury while accelerating recovery. Physical therapy has been used to help in the treatment of many conditions, such as:
- Chronic Pain
- Acute Pain
- Tendonitis
- Sports Injury
- Back and Neck Pain
- Osteoporosis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Sprains
Although physical therapy is a great way to treat many conditions, sometimes surgery may be required. It’s not uncommon for patients to be prescribed physical therapy before the procedure to strengthen the body in preparation for the surgery. Depending on the type of surgery, physical therapy may also help speed up rehabilitation.
Unfortunately, there is no guide for how long physical therapy will take before you fully recover. There are many variables, including age, sex, weight, fitness level, and dedication.
How does it Work?
Our physical therapists at SOHMA at Long Beach, CA, have expertise and knowledge of how the body works as a unified system. When combining their knowledge and your medical history, a physical therapist can create a program to care for you and help you reach your goal. They understand how a body part should move and what is needed to get it to move correctly. The exercises a physical therapist will prescribe help correct limited and inefficient movement patterns.
Physical therapists will provide exercises and movements to do on your own time. Following their instructions is crucial in rehabilitating an injury and can be the difference between healing swiftly or adjusting your program and managing your pain for longer. Even if there is pain or discomfort initially, you must stick with the program for the best results. Once you’ve progressed, it’s common for patients to feel like they can do more than the recommended amount of exercise. This isn’t recommended as it may result in setbacks and, in some cases, cause further damage to the injury.
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.
