In our last blog post, we began talking about the benefits of physical therapy and how it can not only help those with injuries, but can also help prevent them as well. Despite some misconceptions, physical therapy can significantly reduce pain, decrease healing time of injuries, and shorten recovery time. Physical therapy can also avoid surgery altogether or if done before a surgery, shorten the recovery time.  Mobility can also be improved, decreasing the need for assistance devices such as canes, crutches, or walkers. It can also prevent sports injuries in athletes if adopted into one’s training regimen. Today, we are going to continue talking about the benefits of physical therapy for residents of the Topeka area.

Improve Balance

Because physical therapy can reduce your need for mobility assistance, it is safe to assume that physical therapy can also improve your balance and prevent falls. Depending on your age and health issues, falling can be incredibly detrimental. Not only when you see a physical therapist does exercises generally improve one’s balance, physical therapists can help you prepare for specific situations that you would encounter on a daily basis and give you the tools and strength to manage those situations. By investing in physical therapy, your coordination and functionality of the vestibular system can be improved,  which helps you manage your balance.

Manage Age-Related Issues

Age brings with it its fair share of issues that can affect one’s ability to move independently. Physical therapy can lessen and sometimes eliminate the effects of old age such as arthritis and osteoporosis, and, of course, is a necessary step when recovering from a joint replacement. Though, physical therapy cannot literally reverse the effects of age, it can improve your quality of life, and in some cases, reverse the effects of age.

Manage Disease

Many types of diseases can be better managed with the help of physical therapy. Diabetes and other vascular conditions, as well as heart and lung diseases and many women’s health issues, can be better managed when physical therapy is included as a part of treatment. Because physical therapy can help improve mobility and circulation, as a result, the effects of these disease can be significantly improved. Also, because one of the main benefits of physical therapy is strength building, many patients with heart and lung disease are better able to clear the fluid that, at times, can build up in their lungs.

Avoid Depression

Being able to move once again can decrease one’s tendency towards depression when dealing with an injury or with a more permanent condition such as a disease. No only will one feel less discouraged and will benefit naturally from exercise, but, because the pain is reduced, pain-induced depression is less likely to affect the patient. Also, patients will be less likely to over medicate themselves and become addicted to pain medications.

Active Participant in Recovery

When you receive physical therapy treatments, you become an active participant in your own recovery and health. This active participation can not only speed up recovery, but can give one a healthy sense of control over their recovery, pain, and general health. This sense of control can also help one avoid depression and unhealthy addictions.

Ready to get back to life? Contact us today!

Physical therapy can benefit patients in a variety of ways, not only in the recovery process, but also in avoiding injury altogether. If you are in the Topeka area with questions about how physical therapy can help you restore or keep you healthy, contact Aspire Rehab for a free consultation! We would love to help you get moving again!

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