In our post titled, “What is Physical Therapy?” we discussed the field itself, as well as some of the common ailments it can help with. This week, we wanted to answer a question we frequently hear in the community which is, “How can Physical Therapy help you?”. If you’ve ever wondered how physical therapy can help you, this post is for you.
The list of problems/injuries that physical therapy can help with is quite long, but a good general rule of thumb is: if you hurt, we can help! Physical therapy can help you recover from an injury and avoid future injury. We can help with sprains/strains, fractures, balance problems, and rehab before and after surgery. We can help you if you are having trouble moving a certain body part or are having trouble doing an activity that you should be able to do. We also help with any kind of pain you are having and do especially well with neck pain and back pain.
Therapy is proven to decrease pain in the soft tissues (muscles, tendons, and ligaments), improve flexibility, build muscle strength, and improve function. Physical Therapists evaluate how you do an activity and makes suggestions for doing the activity in a way which is less likely to result in an injury. Physical Therapists work with you to establish goals and will create a program of education, clinic activities, and home exercises to meet your needs.
A typical course of physical therapy care can last anywhere from a couple of weeks up to months, depending on the problem being treated. Most patients are successfully treated over a four to six week period. Patients usually attend two to three visits per week. Each session lasts about an hour but may change depending on the patient. Throughout your care, your physical therapist will inform you about your progress and update your activities.
Before you are discharged, you are given instructions on what needs to be done to prevent the problem from coming back. These instructions often include an updated home exercise program and instructions on how to perform daily tasks without causing damage or pain.
If any of the problems we included sound like you, ask your doctor if Physical Therapy is right for you. If you know somebody who could be helped by therapy, ask if they have heard of or tried Physical Therapy. If you are in the San Antonio area, call us at (210) 88-1278 or stop in and visit us at any of our Momentum Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab locations and we will get you the help you need.
