Why You Shouldn’t Skip Physical Therapy: Reasons to Follow Through

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapy employment should grow 14% by 2033.

If you’re wondering why, the answer is simple: physical therapy works. This form of rehabilitative care can treat a variety of health issues, such as:

• Acute injuries
• Chronic conditions
• Post-surgery rehab
• Movement dysfunction

Physical therapy involves using targeted treatments and techniques to improve physical function. It aims to restore the patient’s strength, mobility, and range of motion, dramatically improving their quality of life.

Don’t feel like going to your next physical therapy appointment? Read on to learn more about the many benefits of physical therapy!

Faster Injury Recovery

Not all injuries require surgery. However, they often do need interventions that strengthen the injured area and prevent further damage.

In the case of severe injury, your therapist will design a full recovery plan for you. This may include:

• Ultrasound
• Targeted exercises
• Cold and heat therapy
• Aquatic therapy
• Massage therapy

The purpose of therapy is to return to your daily activities as soon as possible. By working with a therapist, you’ll gradually gain confidence in your abilities and learn how to maintain fitness levels in the future.

Other than physical rehabilitation, your therapist can provide guidance. If you enjoy sports, they’ll tell you which footwear or equipment to use. They may also recommend specific exercises and stretches.

Pain Alleviation

Pain is a significant barrier during any recovery process. Fortunately, physical therapy has plenty of tools that allow you to manage it.

In general, there are two types of pain: acute and chronic. Acute pain starts suddenly and usually has a known cause. With proper healing and treatment, acute pain goes away once you’ve recovered from your injury.

If your pain lasts longer than three months, it’s classified as chronic. It’s often caused by inflammation or disease. In the past, your best option to manage pain was to use opioids or other powerful drugs.

Recently, however, the CDC has started to recommend nonopioid therapy for chronic pain. For example, a therapist can help you manage pain by teaching you breathing exercises or relaxation techniques.

Muscle Strengthening

The importance of regular physical therapy goes beyond managing pain. It helps you strengthen weakened muscles, improving your mobility.

Therapists use special techniques and exercises to rebuild muscle strength. They often use resistance bands or weights to build muscle mass. They may also recommend exercises that target specific muscle groups.

Muscle strengthening helps patients improve their range of motion as well. This is particularly important after surgery. You’ll likely need to focus on flexibility and stretching exercises to regain movement faster.

Pelvic Floor Support

Your pelvic floor muscles are surprisingly vulnerable. Several conditions can cause them to become too tense, such as:

• Menopause
• Pregnancy and birth
• Abdominal surgery

If the damage is serious, your pelvic floor muscles will be unable to fully support the pelvic organs. This can cause urinary leakage, sexual dysfunction, and other conditions that interrupt your daily life.

Physical therapy can help treat pelvic floor dysfunction. Your therapist will identify which muscles are too tense. Then, they’ll teach you some exercises to improve the coordination of those muscles.

Arthritis Treatment

Physical therapy is also a decent option for treating arthritis. It’s often part of a treatment plan that includes medications and supplements.

The main role of therapy in this situation is to ease the symptoms of arthritis. Some of these symptoms, such as joint inflammation, can be debilitating. Therapy can make them manageable and improve your quality of life.

With arthritis, it’s important to talk to your therapist about your response to treatment. If you’re experiencing pain after a session, let them know. They may use different exercises or reduce the intensity of the sessions.

Neurological Support

The health benefits of therapy also cover neurological support. Physical therapy techniques can help treat neurological conditions like:

• Stroke
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Spinal cord injuries

For example, gait training can be a big help for people suffering from Parkinson’s disease. A few weeks of gait training can have positive effects that last for a long time after physical therapy sessions end.

If you’re living with multiple sclerosis, therapy can help you improve your balance and flexibility. If you’re in the early stages of MS, therapy may also slow down the progression of the symptoms of your disease.

Injury Prevention

Beyond helping you recover from injury, physical therapy helps you avoid future injuries. Therapy can even improve your overall performance!

What’s the secret? Simple: physical therapy helps you build strength in areas most vulnerable to injury, such as your back and hips. By focusing on exercises that target those areas, you’re future-proofing them as well.

For example, one of the most essential physical therapy tips is to learn to minimize the strain on your body. Your therapist can help you do that by showing you how to lift and carry heavy objects properly.

Injury prevention is particularly valuable to athletes and people performing physically demanding jobs. That’s because they’re most prone to overuse injuries like strains or sprains.

Post-Surgery Rehab

Physical therapy is a common element of post-surgery recovery. Depending on the procedure, therapy can last from a few weeks to a few months.

If you’ve had musculoskeletal surgery, you’ll likely need orthopedic therapy. This is essential in preventing excessive scar tissue buildup. Orthopedic therapy also helps reduce pain and improves range of motion.

Physical therapy for recovery is particularly important for patients who were hospitalized. It allows them to reach a better quality of life and return to everyday activities much faster.

Book a Physical Therapy Session Today!

As you can see, physical therapy can help with a variety of acute and chronic conditions. The question is: how do you make the most of it?

The easiest way to faster recovery is to take an active role in your treatment. This involves choosing a therapist that best matches your needs. Do some research to find local physical therapists who may fit the bill.

At MPOWER, we offer physical therapy services in Nashville, Franklin, and Brentwood, TN. We use top-of-the-line equipment and have a uniquely athletic approach to physical therapy. Book a session here to learn more!