Physical Therapy Treatment: Everything You Need To Know
Whether you are injured or dealing with chronic pain, physical therapy treatment may be the first option to consider before continuing to more advanced treatments. Physical therapy is one of the most important aspects of physical rehabilitation. It can help people who have experienced injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to regain their physical abilities and return to their normal levels of activity.
When Do You Seek Physical Therapy Treatment?
Physical therapy treatment is used to improve physical functions, reduce pain, and increase movement. On most occasions, it is combined with other treatments, such as surgery or rehabilitation techniques.
Some of the most common modalities of physical therapy treatment:
- Manual Therapy: Involves hands-on physical interventions by physical therapists.
- Electrotherapy: Physical therapists use physical methods that include cold and hot packs, electrical stimulation, physical agents (ice, water, air), and massage therapy.
- Gait training: Physical therapist teaches patients to walk again when they have lost the ability due to physical conditions such as stroke or injury.
- Job physical therapy: A physical therapist designs a program for the patient that enables them to perform their physical job duties with less physical stress, pain, or injury.
Physical therapy can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including:
- Osteoarthritis: This is a common type of arthritis caused by damage to one or more joints, resulting in deterioration of cartilage within the joint areas. Physical therapy may be beneficial for decreasing pain, increasing physical function, and preventing cartilage degeneration.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is a long-term, chronic condition that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. Physical therapy treatment may help decrease pain, increase physical function, and improve physical health and quality of life.
- Lower Back Pain: This is usually treated by physical therapists using a variety of methods, including electrotherapy (like TENS), physical massage, physical adjustments, and sometimes acupuncture or craniosacral therapy.
- Vertigo: A physical therapist can recommend exercises to help with balance and coordination, along with various other physical treatments, such as massage and acupuncture.
- Developmental Problems: Physical therapy treatments are also available for children with different conditions, including cerebral palsy, delayed gross motor development, and poor fine motor skills.
Conclusion
Physical therapy has become a popular treatment these days. It can be used to treat many different conditions, from arthritis and back pain to Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. The benefits of physical therapy are vast. If you or someone you know suffers from any of the conditions mentioned above, talk to your doctor about whether physical therapy may help.
For more information, contact a local provider, like Attentive Home Health.
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