You may already be familiar with the advantages of physical therapy to those who have had an injury, had surgery, or experienced suffering from pain. However, for those less experienced, I'd like to give some insight into the reasons why physical therapy is crucial and how it can be beneficial to you!

Physical therapy is an evolving profession that employs scientifically based clinical treatment methods to restore, maintain, and promote optimal functioning of the body.

Here are 5 reasons you should choose physical therapy:

Reduce Pain

Everyone can admit that we don't want be suffering from pain. Sometimes the cause isn't obvious. Anyone who has experienced pain or is suffering from pain knows the impact it can have on a person's level of living. But manual therapy, has been demonstrated to be a reliable treatment for acute and chronic pain. Utilizing therapeutic exercises and soft tissue, joint mobilization and other forms of physical therapy have been demonstrated to alleviate or eliminate pain. It also teaches patients how to prevent future pain.

Avoid Surgery

When patients suffer from an impairment or pain, typically surgery is an option that quickly enters their radar. Although there are times when surgery is not an option however, in many instances physical therapy can be an effective method in avoiding surgical procedures altogether. There is a growing body of research showing that physical therapy is the first line of treatment for many musculoskeletal injuries and giving it a try before going under the knife could be the secret to avoiding unnecessary surgery. In the instances that therapy doesn't stop surgery, there is strong evidence that back pain prior to surgery improves postoperative outcomes!

Resumption of activity after injury

As a physical therapist, I've known many colleagues who are sports and fitness enthusiasts. A degree in physical therapy and the experience of a physical rehabilitation specialist makes you the ideal person to assist you in returning to your activities you enjoy. Physical therapists will look at both the healing process and physical demands involved in the activity to create a custom plan utilizing techniques that are based on science to help you get back on the road as quickly as is possible.

Avoid Injuries

Most people look for physical therapy for recovery after injury or when in pain. A factor that is frequently overlooked is the importance of physical therapy for identifying and treating areas of weakness or insufficient mobility that may render a patient more susceptible to injury. A physical therapist can identify the impairments and develop an intervention plan to treat these issues. This will help to reduce the risk of injury. All injuries can't be avoided, but it's better to be proactive to avoid injury than be a victim!

Balance and preventing falls

It is well-known that falls among the elderly are commonplace, hazardous and could have a devastating impact on their health and quality of life. Over 25% of seniors over 65 (that percentage only grows with the advancing years!) There is a chance that at least one person falls each year. This can have serious negative consequences. Physical therapists can help prevent falls by evaluating and developing of custom treatment plans including exercises that increase strength mobility, balance, and strength. Also, they can provide education for patients as well as their family members on methods to decrease the risk of falling at home.

It would be difficult to summarize the many benefits of physical therapy. But, I do hope that this article has helped to increase the accessibility of physical therapy to others. I've witnessed the benefits of physical therapy firsthand as a client and as an worker in the field. You can talk to your orthopedist or physician to learn more about physical therapy.