Why Is Physical Therapy So Important After an Injury?
Every year in the United States, millions of people are injured during sports or recreational activities, while on the job, or as a result of motor vehicle accidents. Even though injuries happen in different ways, most injuries have something in common: They can all benefit from physical therapy.
In fact, after an accident, physical therapy can play a critical role in promoting healing and restoring function and mobility. The key is to seek care with an experienced therapist as soon as possible after your injury.
At Easy Reach Chiropractic, Barbara Adonis, DC, and Heather Previll, PT, DPT, offer patient-centered physical therapy treatment at their locations in Lake Worth and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, tailoring care plans to promote optimal recovery. In this post, learn five reasons why physical therapy is so important if you’ve been injured.
1. To promote healing
Physical therapy helps support your body’s natural healing processes, promoting faster, deeper healing following an injury. Many therapeutic activities, like massage and gentle stretching, encourage circulation in the injured area, bringing oxygen and the nutrients while carrying away toxic inflammatory byproducts.
Physical therapy also helps reduce inflammation and stiffness that can affect not only the way you move, but the way your body recovers, too. Plus, they’ll help you adjust your lifestyle to give your body the extra resources it needs during healing and recovery.
2. To relieve discomfort
Discomfort is a big problem for many people following an injury. Physical therapy can be an excellent tool for reducing pain, using an array of techniques, like hands-on therapy, hot-and-cold therapy, ultrasound technology, and other advanced techniques.
In fact, physical therapy can play an important role in managing pain and reducing it without relying on increasing doses of painkillers. In addition to treating your injury, our team will help you learn simple things you can do at home and at work to relieve discomfort while improving your quality of life.
3. To restore function and mobility
Many accidents cause some temporary loss of function, either directly as a result of the injury or from related inflammation and stiffness. Physical therapy aims to address mobility issues from every angle, using techniques that help restore flexibility and range of motion.
Depending on the type of injury you have, your lifestyle, and other factors, physical therapy can help you stay more comfortable at work while making it easier to perform simple, everyday activities, too.
4. To prevent further damage
Even minor injuries can develop serious complications if they aren’t promptly treated. Physical therapy focuses on the effects of your injury and the impact it has on your overall function, as well.
Through a thorough assessment process, our team evaluates your injuries and identifies possible risks that could interfere with healing or result in more serious damage. Then, they tailor your therapy program to add strength and flexibility aimed at preventing complications and further damage to your joints or other parts of your body.
5. To avoid future accidents
Finally, physical therapy may help you avoid future accidents. By strengthening your musculoskeletal system and improving joint function and flexibility, your therapy plan can help you learn how to treat your body better during sports, at work, and in other settings, too. In fact, our team strives to provide whole-body care aimed at supporting a healthier, more active lifestyle for each of our patients.
Heal better, feel better with physical therapy
One of the major benefits of physical therapy is that every treatment plan can be completely customized based on each patient’s needs. Ongoing assessments of your progress allow us to adjust your plan, so you can keep moving forward on your pathway to recovery.
To learn how physical therapy can help you recover following an accident or injury, book an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Easy Reach Chiropractic today.