Doctors prescribe patients who have certain orthopedic conditions or are recovering from orthopedic injuries or surgeries to undergo physical therapy. This treatment helps patients increase functionality and strength using individualized rehabilitation training, exercises, and treatments. Aside from increasing mobility and strength, physical therapy provides several other benefits that improve your overall health and well-being.
Physical Therapy as a Preventive Treatment
The goal of physical therapy is to restore a patient’s functionality, mobility, and strength. This treatment aims to prevent further damage to the area being treated and decreases or eliminates the need for treatments such as medicines, injections, and more.
- Prevent the Need for Surgery Although there are situations when surgery is inevitable, in some cases, physical therapy can delay or eliminate the need for surgery. Doctors reserve surgery as a last resort in most cases. They prescribe other treatments such as physical therapy to aid in the healing process and ease symptoms such as weakness and pain.
- Prevent Injuries A key aspect of physical therapy is assessing vulnerable areas in a patient’s body. From this assessment, physical therapists can identify the patient’s risk of injury to the area. Physical therapists craft individualized plans to help strengthen and prevent injuries to these weak spots. Their exercises target specific groups of muscles, tendons, and ligaments which work together to strengthen the area and prevent injury. In the case of athletes, physical therapists can determine the risks and early signs of injury. With these assessments, they can create either a prevention or recovery plan to ensure the safety of the player.
Physical Therapy for Rehabilitation and Recovery
Physical therapy also helps in strengthening the body and improving movement after an injury or surgery. For example, patients with arthritis and in need of hip, knee, or other joint replacement turn to physical therapy to help them recover after surgery.
- Pain Management Patients experience a lot of pain while recovering from surgery. Physical therapy alleviates this pain by using therapeutic exercises which restore orthopedic functions. Patients undergo manual therapy techniques like joint and soft tissue mobilization. Post-surgery recovery often requires the use of pain medications. With consistent physical therapy, patients can reduce their need of pain medications which can help avoid dependence on them. Regular exercise and physical therapy techniques allow the body to heal faster and better so patients don’t have to rely on drugs to alleviate their symptoms.
- Maximize Movement and Improve Balance Physical therapy is great for people who want to recover or improve their mobility after surgery or injury. Physical therapists can identify, diagnose, and treat movement-related issues. For example, if you have difficulty bending your knee or elbow, physical therapy can help you regain good mobility.
Physical Therapy for Other Health Conditions
Physical therapy is not just for people with specific conditions or for after surgery or injury. Physical therapy is used for a variety of reasons, such as:
- Manage Age-Related Health Problems A lot of people develop conditions like arthritis as they age, which cause mobility and functionality issues as well as a lot pain. Regular physical therapy can help with such conditions. In some cases, physical therapy can help delay or eliminate the need of joint replacement surgery.
- Athletic Improvement Specific workout exercises can improve the endurance of athletes to give them an edge. These treatments enhance coordination, too. There are stretching and strengthening techniques to train the body to move better. With these exercises, players improve flexibility and strengthen their muscles, which helps them be in better shape.
- Improve Cardiovascular Functions Physical therapy can improve your cardiovascular health. Physical therapy keeps you active and gets the blood pumping. For patients who do not get exercise, physical therapy can get you moving in a safe way so you don’t incur injuries in the process of exercising. Physical therapy can also help you burn calories and lose weight through safe and effective exercises. This can help your overall health and well-being.
Physical Therapy in Baltimore, Maryland
To learn more about the benefits of physical therapy and whether it’s a good option for you, contact the experts at Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland. Our experts offer a variety of treatments (including physical therapy) for all types of orthopedic issues. Call us at (410) 644-1880 to make an appointment or book an appointment online.
