We all get injured, experience aches and pains, and often feel that we want to have better movement in our body without being so stiff. Orthopedic physical therapy can help with each of those situations. With a little help from a trained physical therapist and some fantastic equipment, you’ll be well on your way to feeling better and pain-free.
DO I NEED ORTHOPEDIC PHYSICAL THERAPY?
If you’re not sure whether or not this type of physical therapy is for you, keep reading to see if you fall into any of these categories:
Recent or Past Injury
If you’ve recently been injured, physical therapy is a great option for you. It can be difficult to do at-home exercises, especially if you’re worried about reinjuring the already problematic area. In this case, a physical therapist can guide you to know the perfect exercise for your specific needs. Injuries like sprains and strains are definitely something a specialist can help with.
Even if you had an injury a long time ago, it’s still a great idea to visit a physical therapy clinic because your area of injury is likely to be weak and unstable, making it even more prone to injury. A physical therapist can help you strengthen that area to help you avoid reinjury and get your strength back. If you’ve been injured at work, home, or elsewhere, physical therapy treatment can help you get back on your feet.
Pre and Post-Operative Conditions
Our bodies often need some time to recover after surgery and strengthening the area before a procedure can help it heal quicker. With their vast knowledge of the body, a physical therapist will know the exact movement exercise needed to strengthen and target specific areas before a surgical procedure.
After surgery, you’ll need to rest the area that was treated. But after some time, once your body has healed a bit, visiting a physical therapy clinic can be really beneficial. For example, if you’ve had knee surgery, you’ll want to wait a few weeks before going to a physical therapist. Once you begin visits with them, most people will have their strength back within 3-6 weeks.
Stiffness, Pain, Aches
These issues can arise for a number of reasons. You don’t have to have a serious injury in order to go see a physical therapist. If you’re experiencing pain or stiffness, they can help you. Perhaps you slept on your neck wrong and it’s been hurting you for a few days now. Typically when this happens, your range of motion is reduced and turning your head and moving your neck can be really painful.
This is something a physical therapist will be able to help you with! They can provide you with gentle and effective exercises for you to practice to help reduce your stiffness and pain. If you’re waking up every morning with stiff joints and have no relief throughout the day, it’s time to have a visit to a physical therapy office.
ATHLETES NEED CARE TOO
If you’re an athlete, you’ve likely had your fair share of injuries and harsh impacts. A common injury for athletes is an ACL tear which could put you out for a season or two. That’s why it’s important to regularly visit a physical therapist so that you aren’t on the sidelines for as long.
But physical therapists don’t just care for injuries, they can provide pointers to help you perform better in a sport. Visiting with them can help you specialize in a certain skill or strengthen certain muscle areas.
PRN SAN DIEGO
No matter your situation, scheduling regular visits with a physical therapist will only benefit you in the long run. PRN San Diego offers a great variety of orthopedic physical therapy options. You can request an appointment or visit one of our many locations to learn more about what we can offer you.