Four ways physical therapy can benefit you

Physical Therapy Benefits

Do you currently have an acute or chronic pain condition affecting your daily life? Maybe you’re struggling with back pain, a sports injury or impairments following an auto accident. Perhaps you have someone in your family who is experiencing pain and dysfunction. 

Whatever you or your loved ones are facing, a physical therapist can help you find treatment. 

These specialists are experts in human movement and employ a wide range of drug-free, noninvasive techniques. They can also help you get benefits that go far beyond just symptom management. Here are four key benefits that physical therapy can offer you:

  1. Physical therapy services are completely customizable

A primary physical therapy benefit is that it’s customizable. A standard physical therapy plan of care is completely individualized to the patient. The chief aims of any therapy plan are to: 

  • Address the patient’s unique goals
  • Reduce their impairments
  • Optimize their recovery, functional independence and long-term health 

These outcomes can be achieved through physical therapy techniques such as:

After undergoing a thorough examination with your physical therapist, you’ll receive an individualized treatment plan that can accelerate your healing. This plan is modified to meet your specific needs and lifestyle. It also relies on your feedback, giving you a more active role in your recovery.

  1. Physical therapy can help you avoid opioids

Another benefit of physical therapy is it can help you avoid habit-forming opioids. The current opioid abuse epidemic in our country suggests that these potentially harmful drugs are frequently overprescribed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends physical therapy before opioids for the management of chronic pain. 

Plus, treatment techniques used in physical therapy are evidence based. This means they’re tested in scientific research studies in order to determine their efficacy, effectiveness and safety. They also have a much lower risk of adverse side effects than opioids. 

  1. A physical therapist can identify hidden factors contributing to your dysfunction

A physical therapist won’t just mask your pain. These specialists can identify and resolve underlying factors contributing to your current condition. Common factors that lead to chronic issues include:

  • Shortened muscles
  • Scar tissue
  • Range-of-motion limitations
  • Muscle activation problems
  • Impaired ergonomics and body mechanics
  • Postural imbalances

If such factors are left unaddressed, your symptom relief would likely be temporary at best. Through services such as patient education, work-hardening programs and other techniques previously mentioned, a physical therapist can offer benefits for both symptoms and causes of your issue.

  1. A physical therapist can help you maximize functional mobility, capacity and performance

A physical therapist seeks to help their patients improve:

  • Endurance
  • Core stability
  • Coordination
  • Agility
  • Other physical skills 

In turn, this can carry over into better performance in sports and everyday life. This is essential for young, active people and the older population looking to avoid age-related debility. A physical therapist can also help you take steps intended to prevent future injuries. 

Find beneficial physical therapy at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy

Ready to find beneficial physical therapy for your injury or medical issue? Our team at Excel Sports & Physical therapy are primed to help you get the care you need. We offer free screenings that can pinpoint the root cause of your symptoms. Furthermore, our physical therapists excel at constructing personalized therapy plans to address a host of injuries and other conditions. 

Can’t get into one of our therapy clinics? No worries! Our team offers services designed to be used from your own home, including virtual therapy and at-home care appointments. 

Contact our team today for more information about our beneficial physical therapy services or to schedule an initial appointment.