Knowing When it’s Time: Getting Physical Therapy

The choice to start physical therapy can be conflicting. How do you know if an injury is “bad enough,” or if it will heal on its own? Sooner, rather than later, is the time to visit a licensed physical therapist. It’s always best to nip minor aches and pains in the bud than to wait until they worsen or become unbearable. Read on to see when it’s time for physical therapy.

Nagging Injury
Some people have the expectation that minor injuries or strains will go away on their own. While this is the case sometimes, physical therapy is a wonderful option to speed up the healing process. Working with trained professionals will help you locate the exact area of injury, and provide the right training to guide you back to full health. For more serious matters, physical therapy is a must. Getting proper evaluation and guidance early is the best way to combat chronic pain or other issues that can develop over time without treatment.

Athletes
Overexertion or repetitive straining can have serious impacts on an athlete’s body. For both sports injuries and injury prevention, physical therapy is recommended at all levels to ensure athletes can continue the sport they love for many years to come. Ideally, working with a physical therapist will help prevent injuries from happening in the first place. Checking in with a qualified professional will ensure an athlete’s full health before, during, and after an injury.

Post-surgery
After surgery, physical therapy is a vital component of recovery. As scar tissue begins to form, it’s important to be seen by a physical therapist for guidance to ensure your body heals the way it’s meant to. Working with a physical therapist helps decrease the swelling and scarring of surgery so you can restore optimal health much sooner and get back into your daily routine.

Aging
Years of stress on various joints and the inevitable loss of flexibility in muscles can lead to persistent aches and pains and chronic conditions as we get older. When these pains make day-to-day activities such as walking, climbing, standing up or sitting down difficult, it may be time to consider physical therapy. A licensed therapist can give you tips and tricks to minimize symptoms and even stop the progression of some problems, as well as strengthen muscles to keep you strong for years to come.

If you’re not sure whether physical therapy is right for you, i’move offers Pain Assessments to determine your road to better health. If you’re interested in finding out more, consider looking into physical therapy at i’move or learn more about our fitness programs.