4 Ways to Decide if Physical Therapy is the Right Option for You

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To Exercise or Not To Exercise

By Christian Worstell on July 30, 2019 3 mins

When the lingering effects of an injury make it difficult for you to tackle tasks or activities you once enjoyed, you might want to consider physical therapy. This article unpacks the purpose and benefits of the practice to help you decide if it might be a good course of action for you. 

What is Physical Therapy? 
Physical therapy, or PT, is designed to support patients across various phases of recovery. It can be used to reduce pain and boost your mobility. PT can also help you regain control of muscles or body systems after surgery or a stroke. 

The goal of a physical therapy doctor is to identify the main causes of your issue. Then, using your input and medical record, your physical therapist can develop a care plan to guide you back to better health and mobility. 

While some forms of physical therapy fall outside of the realm of insurance coverage, many physical therapy treatments are covered under insurance if they are deemed medically necessary. 
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When Should I Seek Out Physical Therapy? 
Physical therapy might not be best for everyone, and it will not take the place of a primary care physician’s expertise. There are, however, some common scenarios in which you might find physical therapy right for you: 

1. You have pain that is limiting your mobility/activity levels One of the most frequent reasons individuals seek out physical therapy is to identify sources of pain or discomfort and to remedy them through various techniques like exercises or massage.  A physical therapy doctor’s assessment of your patterns of movement, posture, and injury history can help you better understand how your body works and how to repair your issues. 
2. You want to be more mindful of your body to prevent future (re)injury.  One of the benefits of physical therapy is that it considers your entire body and how its various systems work together.  At the same time, physical therapy doctors can help you learn to listen to your body so that you can be more aware in the future of the stresses you are placing on your body. 
3. You are recovering after surgery.  Many individuals who have recently undergone medical procedures like joint replacements or tendon/muscle repair operations will also partake in some form of physical therapy. The key to recovery after these procedures is your ability to begin to rebuild muscle control and movement while also not overstressing the surgery site.
4. A physical therapy doctor is knowledgeable of recovery time frames and your own medical history can build a plan that will allow you to return to your most loved activities in a realistic time frame.
5. You suffer from a chronic condition that requires ongoing assessments.  Our body takes a lot of hits over the course of a lifetime, which means we can end up with chronic issues that deserve consistent attention.

It can be helpful to check in with your physical therapist simply to assess your overall condition. You can also ask your physical therapist for recommendations on lifestyle changes that might help ward off additional aches and pains in the future. 

Tap Into the Benefits of Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can alleviate your ailments while also saving you the cost and health impact of pain medication prescriptions and surgeries. It can also help you better understand how your body works. It might not be the best option for everyone, but for many, it presents a marvelous means to take back their mobility one session at a time.

Find a physical therapy provider near you here or make an appointment with Midwest Sport and Spine for your physical therapy HERE

Christian Worstell

is a freelance writer living in Raleigh, NC.