Are you living with an injury or illness that makes it painful to move your body and enjoy life to the fullest? If so, there’s a good chance physical therapy (PT) could help you.
PT is a treatment for people with movement problems caused by a wide range of conditions. It can improve mobility, reduce pain and help maximize a person’s ability to perform daily activities.
“Regular physical activity can prevent or improve many chronic conditions,” said Jeff Baril, DPT therapy services manager for Aspirus.
PT may help people who have:
- Sports and work-related injuries.
- Back and neck problems.
- Sprains, strains and other orthopedic-related problems.
- Arthritis.
- Neurological problems, including certain stroke-related disabilities, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
- Chronic pain.
What’s Involved?
PT involves prescribed exercises and special movements of the joints and muscles. It also can involve the use of canes, walkers, crutches or other medical equipment. Hands-on therapy techniques can be part of PT, which might take place in a hospital, an outpatient clinic or other settings.
A physical therapist can tailor a treatment plan for you. He or she also may consult with doctors, surgeons and other health care teams.
Many Benefits
The benefits of PT depend on the specific problem and goals. For instance, it can help people:
- Manage pain without using opioid medications.
- Avoid surgery. For instance, people with joint problems often try PT first before considering whether to have joint replacement surgery.
- Recover from an injury or illness. PT is often part of a rehabilitation program prescribed after an injury or surgery. And PT can often help stroke survivors regain some lost abilities.
- Avoid future problems, such as decreased mobility, through fitness programs.
“Movement is crucial to a person’s health, independence and quality of life,” said Sharon Fisher, regional director of therapy services for the Upper Peninsula. “Our dedicated team will provide hands-on care to ensure the best possible outcome.”
For more health information, tune into a podcast about aquatic therapy in which Lydia Lytle, DPT talks about the many benefits of this therapy and how to optimize the effects of buoyancy to get the best results.
For more information on outpatient therapies, visit aspirus.org.