How to Know if It’s Time to Try Physical Therapy

There are many reasons for physical therapy: recovery following surgery or an accident, help with degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis, or to otherwise improve your mobility.

Depending on your lifestyle, age, and overall health, physical therapy may be prescribed by a doctor in an effort to either avoid surgery or in preparation of surgery by strengthening areas around the site of the surgery. Evidence shows that in this instance, being in better condition going into surgery can help improve your recovery period following surgery.

Physical therapy may also include aquatic therapy for lower-impact training, dry needling to focus on muscle trigger points in the body and analyzing the biomechanics of a person’s golf or tennis swing or the way a person throws a baseball to improve athletic performance.

Signs It’s Time for Physical Therapy

Signs of a possible injury that may indicate the need for PT are sharp, persistent pains that may indicate muscle strain. Working closely with a physical therapist can provide patients with long-term relief by strengthening surrounding muscles and other tissues. If a patient doesn’t address these types of sharp pain, the chance of it lingering on are much greater.

Pain following a workout is typical; with proper rest, the pain normally subsides. However, if the pain doesn’t lessen or go away, it may be time to seek out a physical therapist. PTs specialize in techniques like massage therapy, electrostimulation, and other methods of tissue manipulation that can effectively treat these types of lingering physical ailments and complaints.

Seeking help from a physical therapist can also help speed up your recovery from an injury or trauma to the body. There may be specific exercises designed for your particular injury that can help you recover faster and better.

If you’re experiencing pain that cannot be effectively controlled by medication, it may be time to try physical therapy. A skilled therapist should be able to reduce your pain, or improve the physical limitations caused by the pain. Strength training focused on your core (trunk of your body), in particular, can result in a lower reoccurrence of some symptoms. 

Therapeutic Benefits of PT

Wooster Community Hospital’s HealthPoint Health & Wellness Facility offers outpatient physical therapy. The highly qualified therapists at HealthPoint offer a multifaceted approach to treating complaints anywhere in the body and embrace the latest innovations in PT therapies. Call (330) 202-3300 or request an appointment online and take the first step toward feeling better tomorrow!