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Mar 31
2016

Movement.  Independence.  It can be easy to take for granted our ability to move freely and without pain each and every day.  When that ability is compromised, physical therapy can help get you moving again.  Physical therapy helps people of all ages and ability levels return to their prior level of functioning. Physical therapy also encourages lifestyle changes that can help prevent further injury and improve overall health and well-being.

Just like brushing your teeth and drinking water is good for your health, so is physical therapy!

Here are 10 reasons that physical therapy is good for your health.

Reduces injury

With a combination of stretching and movement techniques and warm-up routines, a structured and customized exercise program will help to reduce injury and allow the patient to participate in the activities they enjoy—without the risk of pain and injury.

Improves strength and balance.

A progressive exercise program may help to improve a patient’s muscle strength and promote balance and stability.

Helps diabetes and heart disease.

Physical therapy plays an important role in the treatment of conditions like diabetes and heart disease.  Under the care of a physical therapist, they can design an individualized exercise program that will help to improve blood flow, nerve conduction and muscle strength.

Improves posture.

We live in a world where we spend the majority of our time sitting down and our bodies aren’t built for all that sitting!  To combat the dangers of sitting, physical therapy helps to strengthen muscles and works to improve joint motion and posture alignments.

Reduce or eliminate pain.

Physical therapy involves techniques such as joint and soft tissue mobilization or treatments like taping or electrical stimulation to help relieve pain and restore muscle and joint function.  There are some therapies to even prevent pain from returning altogether.

Avoid surgery.

In some situations, physical therapy may be used as an alternative to surgery.  If physical therapy helps to eliminate pain or helps one heal from an injury, surgery may not be needed.  A physical therapist can create an exercise program to help relieve pain and improve strength and flexibility.  By avoiding surgery, health care costs are reduced as well as recovery time.

Improve mobility.

No matter what age you are, if you are having difficulty walking, standing or moving around, physical therapy can help to improve your mobility.  Physical therapists can properly fit patients with an assistive device such as a cane, orthotic prescription or crutches if necessary.   A physical therapist can work alongside a patient to develop a customized health care plan to ensure that whatever activity is important to that individual can be continued and adapted to ensure maximal safety and performance.

Recover from a stroke.

After a stroke, it’s common to lose some degree of movement and function.  Physical therapy helps to strengthen any weakened parts of the body while at the same time improving gait and balance.  A physical therapist can also work with a patient recovering from a stroke to improve their ability to move around with ease and become more independent.

Manage age-related issues.

As we age, it is common to develop osteoporosis or arthritis.  Physical therapy helps aging patients to recover from joint replacement surgery or to manage arthritic and osteoporotic conditions.

Help your child.

Physical therapy can also help children. From improving fine motor skills to recovering from surgery, physical therapy is an effective way to help your child manage a medical condition, injury or movement problem.

Ensure you and your patients enjoy the benefits of an active, pain-free lifestyle and schedule an appointment with Above & Beyond Physical Therapy today.  Above & Beyond Physical Therapy offers a variety of physical therapy services. Our therapists specialize in meeting the needs of all age groups. If you do not see a service listed that matches your diagnosis, do not hesitate to call us. Our physical therapists offer a complimentary screening to see if physical therapy is the best option for you.