How Physical Therapy Can Improve Your Health

Improve your health when you add a physical therapist to your healthcare team.

Lacking the motivation to get up and go? A person’s physical health strongly correlates to mood and vice versa. Being physically active can help you manage body weight, strengthen bones, and improve energy, brain health, and immunity.

If you’re someone who tunes out when you hear the word “exercise,” it’s essential to understand how achievable a more active lifestyle truly is. If you are inactive now, even a modest increase in your activity level can benefit your health. And, if the pain is stopping you from getting started, we are here to tell you we’ve got you covered!

Five Reasons To Start Physical Therapy

If pain or injury stops you from living an active lifestyle, look no further than your physical therapist to be your partner in health. Why choose physical therapy? We’re so glad you asked! Here are five ways that working with a physical therapist can get you moving on your road to health and wellness.

1.      Physical Therapy is Non-Invasive and Drug-Free

One of the most significant benefits of choosing physical therapy is that it is a holistic, drug-free alternative to pain control. While taking a trip to the pharmacy for pain medications is tempting, those drugs only mask your symptoms. They also don’t get to the root cause of what is causing your pain. Your physical therapist has the knowledge and skill to assess your symptoms and treat the source of your problem.

2.      Physical Therapists Treat Acute and Chronic Conditions

Many people believe that physical therapists can only help you if your injury is recent. That couldn’t be further from the truth! Yes, we prefer to begin care soon after your injury to help with pain control and prevent your condition from worsening. However, even if you suffer from a chronic condition (one that has been ongoing for over three months), such as arthritis, chronic headaches, or an injury sustained years ago, your physical therapist can help you find relief. Old or new, if you’ve been injured, you should ask your doctor for a referral to physical therapy!

3.      Physical Therapy Is the Best Choice for Treating Musculoskeletal Injuries

Physical therapists are musculoskeletal experts! What does musculoskeletal mean? Musculoskeletal (mus·​cu·​lo·​skel·​e·​tal) refers to the muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, joints, and cartilage of the body. Following a thorough evaluation and tedious measurements of your function, your PT will prescribe modalities and hands-on services to help improve your range of motion, muscle strength, flexibility and joint mobility, endurance, and balance. All these help you move with less discomfort and bring you closer to a movement-filled lifestyle.

4.      Physical Therapy Can Help Your Mood

Physical therapy helps you be physically active. And physical activity releases chemicals in your brain called endorphins. Endorphins trigger a positive feeling in your brain and interact with receptors in your brain that decrease pain perception. All combined, positive emotions and pain reduction can help improve mood and reduce depression.

5.      Physical Therapy Can Help Reduce Future Injuries

While it is widely known that physical therapists treat injuries after they have happened, we universally agree that we’d rather see you before an injury occurs to prevent that injury from disrupting your life. Granted, we can never prevent all injuries from occurring. But physical therapists have the expertise to understand the physical demands of your job, home life, and recreational activities and help strengthen the areas of your body most at risk of injury. And, when you consider the extreme dangers associated with older adults falling, physical therapy can actually save lives. Read this blog to learn more about the benefits of physical therapy to prevent falls.

Talk To Your Medical Team About Physical Therapy

When it comes to your health, a ‘wait and see’ attitude won’t serve you well. Take an active lead in your health by talking to your healthcare provider about the benefits of physical therapy. As a patient at Bay State Physical Therapy, we will work with you and your medical team to put you at the center of your care and on the road to better health and wellness.

To schedule an evaluation, call your nearest Bay State Physical Therapy location or complete the form below.

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