BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

Posted by Nabin Shaw on December 13th, 2019

Most accident victims are not eager to undergo physical therapy as a treatment for their injuries. Actually, several of them who have suffered major injuries that cause chronic pain and restricted mobility, will opt for surgery. However, doctors refer them to the best physical therapy in Brooklyn first before undergoing any intrusive treatments.

Being a nurse, I have come to know of the various benefits of physical therapy as opposed to any other form of treatment for these injuries. I realized that patients loathed physical therapy not because of what it entailed, rather, because they did not fully comprehend the amazing benefits it has.

Physical therapy is not mainly for accident victims. It is also used by athletes and children with challenges among other groups of people.

In this article, we are going to look at the key benefits of physical therapy.

Let’s delve into specifics.

• Helps in pain management

Whatever the cause, chronic pain is one of the worst conditions a patient can go through. However, with physical therapy, your joints and soft tissue can be mobilized and muscle function restored. This helps in reducing pain or eliminating it altogether.

Also, with continued therapeutic exercises, the pain might never return.

• Improves mobility and balance

In the event of a serious accident or a major surgery, patients can have a hard time getting back to ‘business as usual,’ especially with their mobility.

In such a case, physical therapy can restore mobility and help them walk again. It might take time, depending with the severity of the injuries, but it is possible. Furthermore, therapeutic exercises will improve balance in elderly patients and those that are more likely to fall.

• Can help in avoiding surgery

In as much as surgery might be necessary for severe cases, physical therapy can help others with lesser injuries avoid it.

As earlier stated, physical therapy helps eliminate pain. Additionally, it aids in speedier recovery and improves their overall physical health. By healing injured tissue, patients can gain their mobility without the need of going under the knife.

If you have already undergone surgery, no need to lose hope. Physical therapy will also fasten your healing process and get you into good shape sooner rather than later.

• Prevents further injuries

The first thing a physical therapist will do as soon as a patient step into their office is to assess areas of their body that are weak; areas that are vulnerable and need strengthening.

By having a closer look at their skeletal and muscular weak points, they are able to come up with the most favorable exercise routine for them; exercises that are less likely to cause further damage to the affected areas and will only strengthen them.

• Helps avoid pain dependency

When someone is involved in an accident or goes through surgery, recovery can be painful. As such, many patients will take pain medication so often that they become dependent on them.  To avoid such predicaments, patients are urged to seek help from a physical therapist.

Physical therapy will address the pain issues and is a much safer alternative to over the counter medication, especially opioids.