As healthcare practitioners and movement and function experts, physical therapists can assist their clients in achieving a more optimal state of health not only by following the therapist’s directions but by taking an active role in the process of becoming healthier. The ultimate goal of physical therapy is not only to help heal and address the client’s injuries and impairments but to empower them to actively maintain a healthy body after discharge.

INJURY REHABILITATION

Injuries impact one’s health and can affect anyone. From small injuries to large injuries, physical therapy can help you recover the right way and improve your overall health.

INJURY PREVENTION

While physical therapists are injury rehabilitation specialists, we love to teach our clients the tools to prevent them in the first place. Injury prevention comes in a few different forms:

Patient education during a treatment plan: if you weren’t able to tackle the risk factors for injury ahead of time, future injury prevention education will be a part of your injury rehabilitation plan. As your pain and limitations diminish and your function improves, your PT will educate you on how to minimize the risk of re-injury in the future including lifestyle modifications and exercise routines.

Prehabilitation: Prehabilitation refers to the process of preparing the body for and decreasing the risk of complications following activity or surgery. When it comes to sports prehabilitation, physical therapists can help identify risk factors for future injury and decreased performance. Through assessing components of movement like strength, range of motion and flexibility, motor control, power, endurance, and balance, a physical therapist can identify impairments that may predispose a client to future injury. They are able to assess these components in the context of the demands of the athlete’s sport as each sport applies unique demands to the body. Similarly, a physical therapist can observe how you perform common movements in your sport and workout routine to look for any biomechanical issues. With all of this information, your PT can develop a program of exercises or recommend a course of PT to address the identified injury risk factors.

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If you decide to work with a physical therapist to help correct your health and wellness issues, your entire treatment plan could consist of around 8-20+ different physical therapy sessions that will each last 60-90 minutes. Once you complete your customized physical therapy treatment plan, you will be able to continue to do the prescribed stretches and exercises utilized during your PT sessions yet in the comfort of your own home.

CARDIOVASCULAR AND RESPIRATORY HEALTH

Heart and lung disease are serious causes of morbidity and mortality and while physical therapy cannot cure these conditions, it can help you safely and confidently return to a higher level of activity. If you are experiencing diminished cardiovascular and respiratory fitness, PTs can help you safely begin and progress an exercise program that should improve your ability to be active and participate in daily activities.
On the other hand, even if you do not have a medical condition affecting the heart and lungs, you may be looking for help to safely begin a cardiorespiratory training program to help you improve your fitness in which case health and wellness PT is a great option.

STRENGTH, MUSCLE MASS AND BONE DENSITY:

Loss of strength, muscle mass and bone density can occur for a number of reasons. It can occur as a result of inactivity related to an illness or surgery or as we age in the absence of a good exercise and fitness program. Loss of muscle mass, strength and power can lead to a sharp decline in function which can result in even greater levels of inactivity in addition to a greater reliance on assistive devices like walkers and wheelchairs and on family and care persons to assist us. As muscle mass declines, so often does bone density which can put a person at risk for serious fractures in case of a fall.
Physical therapy is an excellent option to rebuild muscle mass, strength and power in those that are unsure of where to start or how to progress. Similarly, our team of PTs can teach you how to exercise in a way to prevent this loss in the first place.

MOBILITY

The ability to move around independently is an important goal for most people. No matter whether you walk on your own, use an assistive device like a cane or walker or propel yourself in a wheelchair, maximizing safety and independence with mobility is a goal of physical therapy for optimal health and wellness. Similarly, getting off the floor on one’s own, getting out of a chair without help and getting in and out of the bed, shower or car are other great mobility goals that physical therapy can address.

ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION

Being able to participate in the activities you love is an important aspect of wellness as well as physical, social and emotional health. If you have an injury, health condition or mobility limitation that is impacting your ability to participate in your favorite activities, physical therapists are an excellent resource. They are able to help you recover from injury, improve your overall fitness and mobility and brainstorm ways to modify your favorite activities when necessary.

CHOOSE PT FOR YOUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS

As you can see, our team of physical therapists can help you achieve higher levels of health and wellness in many ways while taking careful consideration of any injuries or medical conditions that you have. If you are ready to take control of your health and wellness and would like some support to get started, give us a call to schedule an evaluation with one of our team members today.