Physical therapy involves working with a trained professional at Injury Doctors NYC to evaluate and treat problems involving movement of the body due to an injury, disability, or chronic health condition. With these goals, physical therapy is beneficial for many types of individuals and offers a recovery method that gradually improves the body’s mechanics.
What Happens at Physical Therapy?
Physical therapists are trained and licensed movement experts, meaning that the work you do with them is purposeful and guided to improve movement and prevent future injury.
What brings someone to physical therapy can differ significantly. Some may have a referral from a doctor to aid in their healing process, while others may seek physical therapy on their own. No matter what brings you to physical therapy, the ultimate goal is to increase movement, strengthen muscles, and leave you feeling better.
When you first meet with a physical therapist, you will undergo a physical exam and evaluation of movement. This allows the physical therapist to see what areas of the body struggle with movement and what types of motion are challenging to do. They can also see how the muscles and joints act when doing specific movements, which might need to be corrected.
The number of sessions you meet with your physical therapist varies on a case-by-case basis. Some people recovering from an injury may need only a few sessions, whereas those with chronic conditions may need to visit a physical therapist for longer.
Besides physically strengthening and stretching muscles, physical therapists may also use the following techniques:
- Electrical stimulation (e-stim)
- Iontophoresis
- Light therapy
- Heat, moist heat, and cold therapy
Who Benefits from Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy benefits a wide range of individuals, from the elderly to athletes recovering from an injury.
The Elderly
Older adults often benefit from physical therapy, specifically those who have developed conditions affecting their mobility and physical function, including osteoporosis, arthritis, or incontinence. Those who have had a joint replacement also benefit from physical therapy as an aspect of their recovery.
By visiting with a physical therapist, the elderly can improve mobility and increase strength, which can help reduce pain and reduce further injury due to movement difficulty.
Musculoskeletal Injuries
Those recovering from a musculoskeletal injury, including a fracture, sprain, bursitis, tendonitis, or surgery, can use physical therapy to restore mobility to the area of injury and speed up the recovery process. Physical therapy helps the individual continue using the injured site in a way that encourages healing, instead of not using the area and causing further problems down the road from disuse.
Neurological Conditions
Physical therapy can be helpful for those with neurological conditions such as:
- Brain injury
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cerebral palsy
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Stroke
- Spinal cord injury
Physical therapy helps improve movement patterns, improve strength, increase limb responsiveness, and promote balance, which helps those with neurological conditions prevent future injury.
Balance Problems
Those with balance problems due to inner ear conditions can go through a series of exercises and manual techniques during Physical Therapy that aim to regain coordination and balance.
Physical Therapy Helps Many
Physical therapy is a beneficial treatment option for helping the body regain movement and increase strength and flexibility. A wide range of individuals can benefit from physical therapy and the exercises suggested by physical therapists. From arthritis to balance problems, physical therapy offers a way to improve the body’s physical functioning, reduce pain, and prevent future injury.
