5 Great Benefits of Physical Therapy

When it comes to recovering from injuries and degenerative conditions, such as arthritis, physical therapy is often a critical part of treatment plans. Physical therapy ― which is tailored to meet your needs ― can help you, among other things, relieve and manage pain, rebuild strength, and improve your range of motion.

Sachida Manocha, MD, a leading interventional pain management specialist at Interventional Pain Center in Worthington and Newark, Ohio, incorporates physical therapy to help patients manage many conditions, such as joint pain and back pain.

Let’s explore five of the many benefits of physical therapy and why it can make such a big difference to your health and well-being.

1. Manage pain

Pain is often caused or exacerbated by weak or stiff muscles and connective tissues. For example, if you have arthritis in your knees, if the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your thighs and lower legs are weak, your pain and stiffness could be more intense. Physical therapy can help you improve your strength and flexibility, which can enable you to move easily and provide better support to your joints.

Additionally, physical therapy can address musculoskeletal imbalances that can put pressure on your spine or muscles in your back and neck. Addressing these imbalances with physical therapy can reduce your pain and help you lead an active life.

2. Avoid surgery

Physical therapy can also help you avoid surgery. Physical therapy will often not only help relieve pain, but it can also help your body rebuild injured or damaged tissue. This may therefore help you avoid surgery. While surgery is sometimes the best option, we will try to help you avoid going under the knife whenever possible. 

3. Accelerate recovery

In cases where you do need surgery, such as for a joint replacement or back surgery, physical therapy can help speed up your recovery. You will typically begin physical therapy within a day or two of your operation, and you and your therapist will focus on maintaining your muscle tone and flexibility. This will help keep your blood moving to your treated area to support healing.

Then, as you continue to recover, your physical therapy will become more intense as your therapist tries to help you regain your strength and range of motion.

4. Improve mobility and balance

If you have a chronic pain condition or a painful injury, it may interfere with your ability to move around independently. Muscle weakness and imbalances can also disrupt your balance. Both of these issues can lead to a more sedentary lifestyle, which may end up compounding your condition and contributing to a wide range of other health problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Physical therapy can also help you improve your balance, coordination, and mobility.

5. Reduce risk of injury

Millions of Americans fall every year, and 20% of falls result in a serious injury, such as a broken bone or concussion. Additionally, every year more than 8.6 million Americans sustain a sports injury. 

Whether you’re an athlete or have poor balance because of joint pain, physical therapy can help you build strength and flexibility so you can prevent getting injured in the future. 

If you have an injury or a chronic pain condition that’s interfering with your life, find out if physical therapy can help you. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with Interventional Pain Center today.