It doesn’t matter how athletic or stationary we are. Minor aches and pains can sneak up on us. If the pain doesn’t subside, physical therapy is available to help. For natural recovery, physical therapy is one of the best options. Uniquely designed for each patient, physical therapy has helped millions return to getting out of pain and balance.
Today we’ll go over what signs to look for, so you can better understand when to seek physical therapy.
Pre and Post Surgery
Surgery is frequently the last solution after all other options have been exhausted. To prepare for surgery, physical therapy may be recommended to you. Especially for those with a high probability of transfer to a rehabilitation center. Physical therapy has been shown to shorten patients’ stay at hospitals by reducing muscle atrophy. Muscle atrophy is usually one of the reasons that can delay a patient from returning to their home.
After surgery, physical therapy can help recover and regain mobility sooner. It also helps to ensure any surgical repairs or replacements will heal correctly. For many patients, physical therapy is used to manage pain. That way, they avoid using potentially dangerous and addictive pain medications.
Chronic Pain
Natural wear and tear is the most common chronic condition treated with physical therapy. This can be caused by aging, injury, or constant stress on a muscle or joint. This can include:
- Tendonitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Muscle Tears and Sprains
- Bone fractures
- Tendon Damage
- Arthritis
- Back Pain
As well as conditions that affect the spine, such as scoliosis, stenosis, and herniated discs.
Although physical therapy can’t undo the damage caused by these conditions, it can help to strengthen muscles and joints. Flexibility training can help to diminish the damage caused by aging. Physical therapy is usually one of the preferred choices when dealing with long-term pain.
Primary Care Provider Suggestion
Although you can ask about physical therapy alone, when your primary care provider suggests physical therapy, you should take it seriously. They should have the best knowledge of your unique condition and issues. If physical therapy is a viable solution to your condition, it is wise to take their advice.
In California, it’s not required to have a doctor’s referral to see a physical therapist; however, you should consider letting them know you will do physical therapy so they can understand how your condition is progressing.
After An Injury
Many injuries can be helped by physical therapy. Injuries such as ankle sprains, muscle strain, or tendonitis can happen to everyone, regardless of age, physical fitness, or activity level. After suffering the injury, it’s best practice to get it looked at by your primary care provider to understand the severity of the injury. Ruling out fractures and tears can allow a physical therapist to provide a personalized program to help heal the injury. This program will need to be followed closely. If the patient doesn’t follow the program accordingly, progress may not be seen, resulting in the injury not healing correctly and chronic pain. In the worst case scenario, surgery may even be required.
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.
