It is a misconception that we must decrease our activities levels as we start to get older. Oftentimes, you hear people state that “I am too old to do “x” activities.” Perhaps you have never had physical therapy before, maybe you are unsure what a typical treatment would look like for you or you are nervous about taking the first step into doing something that is foreign or unknown to you? In this blog post, we will discuss physical therapy from an insider’s perspective, why you should take action today, and how this can improve your overall lifestyle.
What Can You Expect From Physical Therapy?
First and foremost, your physical therapist will perform a thorough review of your intake forms, and medical history. Whether you are recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition, aiming to maintain your health, or looking to improve your athletic performance, a physical therapist can be an invaluable ally on your journey. Following the medical history review, your doctor of physical therapy will ask questions in regards to your limitations, areas of pain or discomfort, mechanism of injury, onset of irritation, unique needs and goals, recovery challenges and current and prior activity levels. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of your condition, also known as the subjective portion of your evaluation, your therapist can begin to develop a plan to address your specific needs.
Following the subjective, your doctor of physical therapy will perform a battery of tests, drills, and movement screens to better understand the root cause of your limitations. This portion is where your doctor of physical therapy gathers objective, measurable data. Once your treatment plan is established through subjective and objective data, your doctor of physical therapy will take a holistic approach through therapeutic exercise, education, manual techniques, pain modulating modalities to improve your overall quality of life and reduce pain.
In each treatment session, your therapist will address lifestyle factors that could be increasing your pain levels or affecting your overall performance. By educating patients on their conditions and strategies for self-care, you begin to see results much faster than standard physical therapy. Communication is key! Your physical therapist will listen to your feedback and adjust your plan of care accordingly to ensure you are progressing towards your goals.
In addition to in person treatment, your physical therapist will give you guidelines moving forwards with exercise to ensure you continue progressing towards your goals without flare ups. This will involve prescription of home exercises to address the root cause of your pain, ergonomic advice for work set-ups and recommendations for recovery. By following all these guidelines, you will maximize the benefits of your treatment, achieve your goals faster, and work towards building an injury prevention program to keep you hitting your personal records at the gym!
How To Schedule?
If you are someone that takes action, physical therapy is for you! By understanding what to expect from your sessions and actively engaging in your treatment, you too will be able to unlock your body’s full potential! If you are ready to take the next step toward a stronger, more active, pain free lifestyle, click the link to schedule your full body assessment today! https://motionrxhealth.com/request-an-appointment/