Many people think of physical therapy as a bit of a chore, but you should actually be excited about it – you’re going to get your body back to normal again. You’ll have one-on-one coaching on strengthening and stretching the part of your body that has been injured or is recovering from surgery, and you’ll learn how best to keep yourself in optimum shape.
Physical therapy may also be ordered by your orthopedic doctor if you are trying to avoid surgery altogether. This form of treatment can be a vital tool that provides results without being invasive.
Let’s talk about some of the main ways in which you can benefit from physical therapy:
Recovering from Surgery or an Injury
Physical therapists (PTs) are experts in how the human body works and moves, so they know how to isolate injured body parts and gradually bring them back to working properly again. If you are recovering from an operation, your PT will show you exercises you can easily perform on a daily basis to help you get stronger and stronger.
If you’re an athlete, exercise therapy is where experts can check your form and identify any bad habits you may have developed in your sporting career, whether as a professional athlete or as an amateur. Physical therapy is useful to help you return to your pre-injury condition, or to help you improve when you are stuck on a plateau and have not been able to make any more gains in your physical conditioning.
Physical therapists are experts in the way our bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other parts of the musculoskeletal system interact with one another. Therefore, your physical therapist can observe you and make any necessary alterations to your form or movements which may be either holding you back or causing you pain.
Learning How to Prevent Falls
Your doctor may also recommend physical therapy so you can learn how to prevent falls if you are deemed a fall risk. Your physical therapist will demonstrate examples of safe but challenging scenarios, and they will show you how to regain your balance or how to navigate around the home without falling.
Managing Chronic Health Conditions
Physical therapy can help you manage health-related conditions like diabetes. As a facet of your everyday life, you need to exercise – it helps with blood flow and, especially if you have diabetes, it can assist with controlling your blood sugar levels.
Diabetics tend to have poor circulation in their feet and legs, so therapists can assist patients with education on foot care and easy exercises you’ll enjoy doing every day. Similarly, with other chronic conditions, your PT will show you movements you can perform regularly to help keep you healthy.
Trusted Orthopedist in the Detroit Area
Physical therapists understand the stressors on the body and how certain sports, activities, and surgeries can affect movement. PTs can help you recover from an injury or surgical procedure so you’re as good as new again.
If you would like an appointment with an experienced orthopedic doctor who knows how to help you recover from an injury or to help you be more pain-free again, contact our team at Ahlgren Spine today. Call us at (248) 215-8080 or request an appointment online now, and let us help you get back into the swing of things!
