5 Reasons You Might Need Physical Therapy
Our physical therapists work with older adults, men, women, and children who are dealing with a variety of acute and chronic health issues at our clinic.
But we can assist with more than just pain! Our physical therapists have all completed advanced training in anatomy, human movement, and other areas. This means that a physical therapist can help you improve your function and quality of life in a variety of ways, as well as a variety of signs and symptoms other than “just” pain that we can alleviate and address at the source.
Ever wondered if physical therapy could help you? Keep reading to see our top signs that it may be time to consult with a physical therapist in your area.
Could you benefit from seeing a physical therapist?
If you’re experiencing any of the following conditions, symptoms, or problems, it’s a good idea to see a physical therapist for a thorough assessment as soon as possible!
1. You’re feeling off-balance and uncoordinated.
Balance and coordination loss can develop naturally as people age, but it can also happen as a result of events such as a stroke or nerve injury caused by diabetes or radiculopathy. These changes can sometimes result in falls, which not only pose a danger of harm but also make a person fearful of falling again.
Unfortunately, studies have shown that a person’s fear of falling might keep them from moving around, which further adds to their frailty and unbalance. And the weaker a person is, the more likely they are to fall again. What a symbiotic relationship!
A physical therapist can help you or a loved one improve their balance, coordination, motor control, and awareness of their surroundings. We help you regain the confidence and physical abilities you need to be safer and more active in your daily life through exercises and instruction. In rare circumstances, we may also recommend adapted equipment and gadgets to help you perform better and stay safe.
2. You’re experiencing dizzy spells.
Vertigo (the sense that the room is spinning around you) and dizziness can be quite disruptive to your daily life. These symptoms might have a variety of origins, but they are frequently a marker of vestibular disorders like benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
A physical therapist is educated in the diagnosis and treatment of BPPV and can recommend a variety of treatments, including the Epley’s maneuver and gaze stability exercises, to help reduce the discomfort. In many situations, persons with BPPV get near-complete symptom relief after just one or two sessions!
3. Your joints feel weak, stiff, or unstable.
In addition to pain, our physical therapy patients also come to us with concerns about other ailments like joint stiffness or hypomobility, joint instability or hypermobility, weakness, numbness, and tingling. This often coincides with other symptoms such as decreased activity tolerance and fatigue.
Exercises, non-invasive modalities, manual therapy, and the prescription of orthotics and other adaptive devices can all be incredibly helpful and provide a more cost-effective solution than medications.
4. You’ve sustained a sport or work-related injury.
It could be time to consult with a physical therapist is if you have experienced any sort of acute traumatic event, like a fall, auto accident, or injury on the job or during an athletic event. Even if you feel “fine” immediately after the incident, there still could be underlying tissue damage that simply isn’t noticeable right away. This is because stress hormones like adrenaline can mask pain and signs of tissue injury in your body…at least until they return to their pre-accident levels.
By consulting with a physical therapist ASAP after an accident, we can help identify warning signs of tissue damage and initiate early treatment to reduce inflammation and prevent further damage. And unlike medication, physical therapy can also help address underlying factors, like weak or short muscles, that either contributed to the event in the first place or may otherwise delay your healing.
5. You’ve received a new health diagnosis or experienced a change in everyday function.
A physical therapist is licensed to treat a wide number of health conditions. So, if you recently received a new diagnosis, consider finding out if a physical therapist can be a helpful part of your medical team!
Conditions we treat at our physical therapy clinic include:
- Amputations
- Fibromyalgia
- Low back pain
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
- Musculoskeletal conditions like muscle strains, ligament sprains, tendonitis, bursitis, and impingement syndrome
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
- Sciatica
- Neurological conditions including Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis
- Autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis
- Pediatric conditions including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and sensory processing disorders
- Debility and weakness following prolonged hospitalization or treatment for an illness such as cancer, the flu, or COVID-19
- Post-operative recovery from things like joint replacement and heart surgery
Call a physical therapist today for help
A physical therapist can work with you to provide efficient and effective relief from a range of concerns and health issues. Whether you have chronic pain or some other health concern, we invite you to call our physical therapy clinic today to schedule an appointment. It’d be our honor to join you on your journey toward better health and function!
