Injuries can occur from a variety of causes from car accidents to sports injuries. Injuries can be treated in a few different ways, depending on the type of injury and the health condition of the patient. One of the possible treatments that may be recommended for injury recovery is physical therapy.
Physical therapy involves exercises and stretches that encourage proper movement of the body. The ultimate goal is to heal and strengthen the body so that pain dissipates and further injury is prevented.
Why Physical Therapy Works
The process of physical therapy involves moving and strengthening the injured body part so that mobility can be restored. If an injury restricts your movement and you don’t start moving that part of your body in the same way again, it could become permanently immobile. Pain is often the biggest culprit that prevents patients from recovering from injuries. It may hurt to move the injured body part, but it is necessary to do so to promote healing. Physical therapy helps you learn how to move properly again.
How Physical Therapy Works
A key element of physical therapy is the effort that you, the patient, put into your treatment. If you keep a positive attitude and work hard at your therapy sessions, you’ll see results much faster. Another important step is to do the exercises your physical therapist recommends at home in between your appointments. Physical therapy must be done daily in order to experience the benefits and make a full recovery.
Physical Therapy Benefits
There are many physical therapy benefits that can help you recover more quickly and more thoroughly from an injury, such as:
- Pain relief. If you’re experiencing acute or chronic pain due to your injury, physical therapy helps to relieve it. Physical therapy stretches and exercises help to loosen up the muscles and lubricate the joints so that movement is easier and less painful.
- Restored mobility. Pain and stiffness can make it difficult to move an injured body part, especially a joint. Physical therapy often involves guided movement with specialized equipment that can help you stretch and move safely without causing further injury.
- Healing at the source. Physical therapy provides actual healing of the injury, not just masking the symptoms. The muscle, joint, or body part that is injured will be addressed directly with individualized treatment designed just for you.
- Avoid pain medication. Pain medication is used to mask the symptom of pain, but it only provides temporary relief. There is also a negative habit forming element of taking pain relievers. If you don’t address the injury to heal it and stop the pain, you could be taking medication for the rest of your life, possibly increasing the dosage to achieve the same effect.
- Prevent reinjury. Another benefit of physical therapy is that you become stronger. The injured area of the body and the other parts of the body that support it, will be stronger after physical therapy, which reduces your chances of reinjury. Through physical therapy you also learn how to move your body properly, which can also prevent reinjury.
Chiropractic vs Physical Therapy: What’s the Difference?
When it comes to chiropractic vs physical therapy, there are some pretty significant differences. Chiropractic treatment focuses on spinal alignment and how it relates to the musculoskeletal system. Its primary focus is the back and neck, making adjustments to the alignment of the vertebrae. Physical therapy focuses on the joints and muscles throughout the body using exercises and stretches that build strength to heal injuries. Chiropractic treatment and physical therapy are often used together for treatment.
Kim Chiropractic & Rehab Provides Physical Therapy Services
At Kim Chiropractic we provide both physical therapy and chiropractic treatment to help our patients make the best possible recovery from injuries. Our physical therapy services can help you make a faster, more complete recovery.
Have you experienced an injury? Contact us to schedule a consultation. We look forward to being a part of your recovery.
