Physical therapy can help improve your quality of life in various ways. It can relieve pain, increase mobility, improve strength and coordination, and help you to regain independence. Therapy can also help you to manage chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Conditions for Physical Therapy
Many conditions can be helped by physical therapy. If you have pain, stiffness, or weakness that is limiting your ability to move and function, therapy may be able to help. Therapy can also be helpful if you have had an injury, such as a sprain or strain, surgery, or a broken bone. Other conditions that may be helped by therapy include:
- arthritis;
- back pain;
- cancer;
- cardiovascular conditions;
- diabetes;
- fibromyalgia;
- gastrointestinal conditions;
- headaches;
- incontinence;
- joint replacement;
- multiple sclerosis;
- neurological conditions;
- pre- and post-natal conditions;
- pulmonary conditions;
- stroke.
Therapy can also help to prevent falls and fractures in older adults. If you have mainly a sedentary lifestyle, low back pain physical therapy is also the best choice for you.
Types of Solutions
Depending on your condition, your therapist may use various techniques to help you. These may include:
- exercise;
- massage;
- manual therapy;
- heat or cold therapy;
- electrical stimulation;
- ultrasound;
- balance training;
- cardiovascular conditioning;
- incontinence training.
Orthopedic Physical Therapy
Orthopedic physical therapy is the branch of therapy that focuses on treating injuries and conditions of the musculoskeletal system. This includes the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Orthopedic therapists use a variety of techniques to treat their patients. These may include:
- exercise;
- manual therapy;
- massage;
- ultrasound;
- electrical stimulation;
- heat or cold therapy;
- joint mobilization;
- rehabilitation;
- custom bracing.
Orthopedic therapists treat a wide variety of conditions. These include:
- arthritis;
- back pain;
- carpal tunnel syndrome;
- fractures;
- joint replacements;
- osteoporosis;
- sprains and strains;
- tendinitis.
Therapy for Older Adults
Older adults can benefit from physical therapy in many ways. As we age, there appears a fall risk. One in three adults aged 65 and over will fall each year, and falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries in this population. Physical therapists can help to assess your risk of falling and develop a plan to prevent falls. They can also help you regain your strength and mobility after a fall.
Therapy can also help older adults manage chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease. It can also help to improve balance and coordination and to prevent falls.
For older adults, therapy may also focus on helping you maintain your independence. Therapy can help you to strengthen the muscles that are important for daily activities such as dressing, bathing, and using the toilet. It can also help you to improve your balance and coordination and increase your mobility.
