What Is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is a treatment that helps people move better with less pain after an illness or injury. Your doctor may suggest physical therapy for variety of medical diagnoses that involve joints, bones, muscles, and nerves. Physical therapy can also help with recovery after certain surgeries, such as tendon repair or joint replacement. Physical therapy can also treat aging-related conditions such as arthritis and disc degeneration. When done properly and consistently, physical therapy can help prevent permanent damage and recurring problems.

Physical therapists are movement experts who can identify, diagnose, and fix movement problems. Physical therapists use a combination of techniques to relieve pain and improve your flexibility, strength, endurance, coordination, and balance. Physical therapy almost always includes specially designed exercises to bring stability to the affected area. Some of these exercises are done at the therapy clinic and some are done at home on a daily basis to speed up the rehab process. Physical therapists may also use heat, cold, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound to block pain, improve movement, and promote healing. Depending on the particular needs of a patient, physical therapists may also provide hands-on ‘mobilization’ techniques to a joint or muscles that can restore normal structure and movement in the affected area.

Is an illness or injury making it hard for you to do your everyday tasks? Then please call Genesis to see if physical therapy can help you get better.