Is climbing the stairs getting more taxing on your knees? Are you unable to play with your children the way you used to? Do you have an old recurring injury that refuses to go away? If so, you need the holy grail of modern medicine: physical therapy. Often deemed one of the best routes for recovery, physical therapy is ideal for children, adults, and seniors alike. The article below provides all you need to know about physical therapy.
What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is the expert intervention to enable humans to reach their ideal physical and mental well-being. PT is often an alternative to using medicine and undergoing immediate surgeries by using corrective exercise, active recovery, and re-strengthening your motor pathways to help you feel young again!
By applying tests, diagnoses, and examinations, physical therapists can evaluate and help treat mental and physical problems in both children and adults. As primary health care providers, PTs also promote health and wellness by implementing a diverse range of support schemes with the patient’s families and societies. This intervention also includes enlisting the help of other developmental, rehabilitation, medical, and educational specialists and experts.
How Will I Know If I Need Physical Therapy?
There are some indicators to help understand whether or not you need Physical Therapy. A lack of mobility, weakness in your muscles and joints, injury-prone limbs, depression, a short attention span, and missing functionality in any part of your body indicate that you may need physical therapy.
Physical therapists help improve certain diseases, relieve pain, and help cure underlying conditions. Some pain and movement problems can become chronic and lead to surgery. Physical therapy helps to reduce the symptoms of many chronic diseases and conditions. It also can keep many issues from worsening.
Physical therapy is similar to pediatric physical therapy for children. Therefore, it may help recover from sports and non-sports-related injuries, unusual delays in body development such as running, jumping, etc. Nerve and motor issues benefit from physical therapy. So if you have signs of early-stage Parkinson’s or Down’s syndrome, physical therapy can be a beneficial investment.
How Does Physical Therapy Work?
If you decide to get physical therapy, the first thing you must do is visit your nearest health care service provider. First, you will have to go through some scans that are usually free of cost at most therapists’. These scans will determine what injury or a medical condition you have and take about 20 minutes. You might also speak to your therapist to better explain your symptoms and express what you expect to gain out of therapy. After this, you will receive a therapy schedule according to which you will have to come for your sessions a certain number of days every week.
The frequency of the sessions and duration of the treatment depend on the severity of your condition. Your primary caregiver will monitor your growth and progress to modify the therapy as you grow stronger. The corrective exercise involved in your program will gradually become more strenuous to make your joints, limbs, and motor pathways stronger.
Like this, you may have to perform yoga, cardiovascular exercises, weight training, and calisthenics, engage in sports, and perform active and passive recovery to help you become stronger and more resilient. If you are getting therapy to recover from an illness or an injury, you will have to perform functional movements. This program is solely to help the injury or illness go away. After this, you will perform increasingly challenging exercises to reach your previous strength.
Physical Therapy may also teach war or accident victims to use prosthetics and heal from burns or cuts. Therapists provide counseling and advice to keep patients in a healthy mindset and help them to recover faster. This approach is also beneficial for victims of cardiac arrests, partial brain deaths, and life-threatening experiences to slowly regain the use of their limbs and become used to their new life.
Where can I Receive Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is usually available in designated hospitals, centers, and establishments. However, it is also available in natural environments like gardens, playgrounds, specific gyms, and parks to provide a homely and warm atmosphere for the patients so that they do not feel alarmed. You can also arrange private sessions in the comfort of your own home, although this facility is rare and can be expensive.
How Can The Family and Friends help?
The patient’s families play a vital role in the effect of Physical therapy. The family decides how successful physical therapy is because they are the constant support system for the patient. Physical Therapists collaborate with the family to help create a supportive and healthy environment.
Families can also help by catering to the patient’s needs, driving him to therapy even if the patient does not want to go, and rescheduling their routine so that the patient does not miss physical therapy. The insistence is important because consistency is vital for physical therapy to be effective. If your child is getting physical therapy, you can access community resources, buy toys for the child, and even access local awareness programs. All these factors combined lead to a positive physical therapy outcome. Family members can also monitor the patient’s diet since that is vital for recovery and regaining their strength if the patient is suffering from an injury. Family can also be a bit forceful and help the patient come out of their denial and obey their therapist. Often patients refuse treatment due to fear or pity. Therefore, ushering them into therapy is paramount.
Final Thoughts
Physical Therapy is ideal for people of all ages because it is an effective way of healing injuries and any part of your body without harmful and addictive drugs or surgery. Physical therapists are always supportive and offer the best advice. Instead of you letting an old injury linger and grow worse over time, getting prompt physical therapy is the best idea. This treatment will ensure that you heal your injury quickly and go back to your youthful ways.
FAQs
Are Physical Therapists licensed?
Yes. After graduation, a Physical Therapist will get their license and then gather years of experience to create credibility around their name. Although seeing a licensed therapist is always better, this does not mean that a practitioner’s license is a clear indication of expertise. Before choosing your therapist, keep experience and reputation above all else.
Can Physical Therapy be used to cure ACL issues?
Yes. Physical therapy is very beneficial for tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries. If your ACL tear is very deep, it might be worthwhile to get surgery. However, therapy post-surgery is a good idea because, with the conducive environment and the support of the staff, you can slowly relearn the use of your knee and become stronger over time. Therapy will also keep you motivated.
Is Physical Therapy expensive?
Although not the most expensive form of recovery, physical therapy also comes with a steep price. However, it is always worth it. Athletes, celebrities, and regular people alike vouch for the benefits of physical therapy, making it a popular and common means of recovery.
