How Does Physical Therapy Help me Recover?

If your doctor recommended that you visit a physical therapist or you are dealing with a physical problem (such as physical pain that won’t go away or problems with your body’s mobility and function) and you’re thinking about addressing it by visiting a physical therapist, then you might be wondering what physical therapy actually consists of. The following are the four types of treatments that a physical therapist may use to help you recover:

1. Exercise Therapy

The proper exercise therapy can help to reduce pain and the time it takes to heal as well as to improve range of motion, strength, posture, balance, muscle mass, self-confidence, and more. A physical therapist will prescribe an exercise therapy plan based on your unique physical issue. They will help you with certain exercises during your appointments but will also provide you with a plan of exercises that you should follow while at home. It’s worth mentioning that many physical therapists seek additional training outside of standard physical therapy degree programs since many physical therapy schools don’t offer standardized exercise therapy training.

2. Manual Therapy

When performing manual therapy, a physical therapist will generally use their hands to massage or put pressure on certain parts of your body. Usually, manual therapy is done in conjunction with exercise therapy. For example, the physical therapist may perform manual therapy on your shoulder to help improve its range of motion and reduce pain so that you can exercise more effectively.

3. Physical Agents

Physical agents include ultrasound, diathermy, and electric stimulation. They are passive agents used to help reduce healing time and to reduce pain. Most physical therapists will prescribe manual therapy and exercise therapy before using physical agents.

4. Wound Care

Some physical therapists also have the specialized training required to help heal wounds. In hospital settings, a physical therapist may use specialized medical tools to help reduce healing time and pain for wounds that have been sustained during or after a surgical procedure. This, however, is a very specialized form of physical therapy that not all physical therapists do.

These are four types of treatments that a physical therapist can perform. Which treatment is prescribed to you is based on your individual situation. It’s worth noting that a physical therapist may choose to combine some of these treatments depending on your diagnosis as well. In addition to diagnosing your problem and treating it, a physical therapist will also help inform you on how to improve your physical well-being over the long-term to help prevent further issues. If you’re in need of physical therapy or would like more information about physical therapy in general, then be sure to contact us at Florida Spine in Vero Beach, FL, to schedule an appointment with us today.