What Conditions Do Physical Therapists Treat?
Are you wondering – what conditions do physical therapists treat? You may have been told by your doctor or another healthcare professional or even a friend or family member that you need physical therapy for some condition or injury you’re suffering from. Physical therapy is a branch of rehabilitative care where a licensed medical professional uses proven techniques and equipment along with exercise regimens that assist with abnormal physical functions to prevent pain and help you to improve your mobility and strength.
There Are Many Conditions Physical Therapy Can Help With
There are a wide variety of health conditions that physical therapy can help with to provide you better functionality so you can return to previous activities or just manage daily tasks better. Diseases that physical therapy can help include neurological disorders, genetic or musculoskeletal disorders, and injuries resulting from a trauma or a disease.
Here are just some of the conditions where physical therapy can help:
Lymphedema
Some people have excessive fluids that gather in the lymphatic system that move around in the blood stream, causing swelling. PT’s use Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) to reduce swelling and prevent future buildup of fluids.
Sports injury
Types of injuries brought on by sports, car accidents, or other traumas like hairline or stress fractures can be remedied with appropriate recovery programs or prevention exercises for a quick recover that is safe and effective.
Muscular Dystrophy
A person suffering with muscular and skeletal degeneration can get help from a physical therapist. They will use mobility exercises and use supporting frames to help patients move around more, such as walkers and canes.
Neck and back pain
Sudden intense pain or chronic pain the back and neck that can last months or even years can affect one’s quality of life and restrict normal functioning. If you receive physical therapy, this pain can be alleviated to help with comfort and mobility so you can do more pain-free.
Limited Range of Motion (ROM)
If you have overused parts of your body, this can cause swelling or you’ll feel tenderness and even pain in those areas. Your range of motion is affected negatively, but this can be helped with physical therapy. Your ability to extend and flex will be improved using various techniques.
Osteoporosis
People who suffer from this condition have thin and brittle bones that are like sponges with little holes inside them, which cause them to break easily. These fractures can be prevented or helped after the fact with physical therapy.
Vertigo
Anyone who suffers from vertigo, which includes dizziness or lightheadedness, which can lead to debilitating falls. Physical therapy can help with your sense of balance, which can help those with vertigo. Some with ear conditions such as Meniere’s disease also suffer with vertigo, and they can also be helped with balance training.
Headaches
Some people suffer from tension-type or migraine headaches, which can lead to a severe neck or head injury. A plan to increase mobility in the neck and strengthen the upper back muscles will help with alleviating these headaches.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Anyone who has Carpal Tunnel Syndrome will tell you how much it affects them, especially the ability to use a computer keyboard, which may be the cause of it in the first place. The repetitive stress of using your mouse can create this condition in your wrist. Your pain can be decreased by changing your posture and doing various stretches and exercises to strength the ligaments in muscles there to help with pain and functionality.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
This disorder, which is considered quite complex, deals with debilitating tiredness that isn’t improved with resting. A physical therapist along with doctors can come up with a treatment plan that includes tasks to help with endurance training.
Respiratory issues
Someone with COPD or other respiratory diseases may be treated with pulmonary rehabilitation techniques that involve strengthening the diaphragm with breathing tasks that exercise those muscles to strengthen them.
Burns
If you’ve had a severe burn, you may have unwanted scar tissue that is affecting you.
Physical therapists can massage burned areas with scar tissue to regenerate healthy soft tissues such as new tendons and muscles to repair affected areas.
Conclusion: What Conditions Do Physical Therapists Treat
There are other maladies for which physical therapy can also help. If you’re unsure, ask your doctor or a friend for a referral of a reputable therapist, and try it soon to see how it can help you. Active Sport & Spine Therapy is a physical therapy and chiropractic care office located in Little Falls NJ. If you are looking for a winning team in sports medicine and physical therapy, you should contact Active Sport & Spine Therapy today. They provide chiropractic care, sports medicine and a range of other services and can assist you with many of the ailments you are facing.
