When you think of Exchange Physical Therapy Group physical therapy, you might picture patients recovering from an injury or surgery. But physical therapy has a much wider range of practical uses and benefits. Learning the most common reasons for physical therapy in Edgewater can help you understand the diverse needs that these therapists address.
Five Most Common Reasons for Physical Therapy
At its core, physical therapy helps people move better. Physical therapists often see patients for the following five reasons, among others.
1. Manage Pain
One of the main reasons people seek therapy is for acute or chronic pain management. Physical therapy is often the first line of defense against ongoing pain before a person resorts to surgery or long-term medication use.
Therapists use several methods to target the source while suppressing the body’s pain response to injuries. They also suggest functional improvements to prevent pain from recurring.
Physical therapists work with patients to manage a broad spectrum of pain types and sources, such as:
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Joint pain
- Arthritis pain
- Pain from sprains and strains
2. Improve Mobility
Mobility impacts virtually every aspect of your life. Many conditions can affect mobility, such as arthritis, injury, surgery, and even just normal aging. If certain movements bring you pain, such as crouching, kneeling, lifting items, or bending, you might benefit from physical therapy.
Physical therapists aim to improve joint mobility, strengthen muscles, and increase range of motion after injuries. This allows patients to move more freely and easily and complete daily activities with less pain, discomfort, and risk of injury.
3. Avoid Surgery
You may know that physical therapy is important for post-surgical rehabilitation, but did you know it might also help you avoid surgery in the first place? One of the most common reasons for physical therapy is to manage pain and recover from injuries without the need for surgery.
Because physical therapy is non-invasive, there is little risk involved in trying PT before resorting to surgery. When patients do end up needing surgery to correct joint dysfunction or pain areas, physical therapy can prepare them for surgical intervention and potentially streamline their recovery.
4. Improve Injury Recovery
One of the major physical therapy benefits is helping people recover from injuries faster and more effectively than they can on their own. Your body’s natural healing process supports injury recovery to an extent, but outside intervention is often necessary to prevent ongoing pain, mobility issues, and reinjury risks.
Physical therapists use targeted exercises that improve strength, flexibility, and range of motion so that patients can return to normal movement without pain and discomfort.
5. Enhance Movement Patterns and Athletic Performance
You may not realize that the movement patterns you have developed over time place you at a higher risk of experiencing strains and injuries. Physical therapists guide patients in making postural improvements, strengthening weak areas of the body, and improving muscle imbalances that may be hindering their work or quality of life. They also help with balance and fall prevention for older individuals and those at a heightened risk of falls.
Athletes also turn to physical therapists to improve their form and performance on and off the field. Therapists can evaluate an athlete’s current movement patterns and suggest functional improvements to minimize their risk of injury. Athletes can also learn to strengthen weak muscles in pursuit of their physical goals.
While physical therapy seeks to prevent sports injuries, it is also an important step in sports injury treatment.
Schedule an Appointment With Exchange Physical Therapy Group in Edgewater
The most common reasons for physical therapy are to reduce pain, improve mobility, and streamline recovery. Whether you are looking for physical therapy after surgery, to prevent surgical intervention, or for any other reason, Exchange Physical Therapy Group in Edgewater is here to help.
We provide one-on-one physical therapy across four Hudson County, NJ, locations. Contact us today at (201)721-6130 or visit us online to schedule an appointment.
