The Many Benefits of Physical Therapy

At Orthocenter, we frequently recommend physical therapy for our patients. Whether you’re seeing one of our experts for a sports injury, a foot and ankle issue, knee replacement, an overuse injury like carpal tunnel syndrome, or something else, you may discover that physical therapy is part of your treatment plan. 

Learn the many advantages of physical therapy, and why you might benefit so richly from it. 

Who needs physical therapy?

Regardless of your age or gender, it’s likely that you may be physically limited in some way at some time. Perhaps you’ve broken a limb, had surgery, or injured yourself somehow, or you have some medical condition that makes it difficult to move regularly. 

The aim of physical therapy is to improve your ability to move and function. In most cases, your therapist helps you learn exercises that you can do at home so you don’t need to have office visits forever. Here are a few of the many benefits physical therapy offers: 

Pain management

You may have heard that physical therapy is painful, but the reality is that it’s an excellent way to manage your pain without drugs, which pose risks. By increasing your mobility and strength, you’re going to feel less pain over time. 

Increased mobility

If you don’t enjoy full range of motion, you’re limited. Physical therapy can help you increase your range of motion and enjoy more and more comfortable mobility, which means living your life with fewer limitations. 

Return to life

If you’ve been ill or injured, you’re probably wondering when you can get back to normal life. Physical therapy helps you recover faster so you can get back to work, your favorite hobbies, spending time with your family or friends, and any other things you want and need to do. 

Be independent

Injuries can prevent you from performing activities of daily living. For example, you may find brushing your teeth difficult if you’ve had surgery on your rotator cuff. Physical therapy can help you get back to taking care of yourself. 

Get a personalized plan

When you go to physical therapy, your therapist works with you to create a plan that is designed specifically for you. A 70-year old man with arthritis has different needs than a 17-year-old athlete who is dealing with a chronic ankle sprain. 

Your therapist designs a plan that meets your individual needs and gets you moving again at the right speed for you. 

Avoid or delay surgery

Sometimes, physical therapy can help you avoid surgical intervention, or delay it for a time. For example, some people who have meniscus tears can undergo physical therapy and avoid the need for surgery, but still have excellent results. 

Recover from surgery

If it turns out that the most appropriate treatment for you is surgery, physical therapy can help you recover faster. For example, if you need a knee replacement, physical therapy can help you build the strength to support your new joint so you can use it without pain or fear. 

It’s up to you

The key to physical therapy is actually doing it. If your therapist gives you a list of exercises to do daily and you do them only a few times, you’re not getting the benefit from therapy. 

Your very participation is actually another benefit of physical therapy. When you’re an active participant in your own care, you’re likely to feel less stress, so you have better outcomes. 

If you’d like to learn more about why our orthopedic specialists work with physical therapists so often, or how you might benefit from physical therapy, schedule an appointment at one of our three convenient locations in Red Bank, Morganville, and Holmdel, New Jersey.