Physical therapy is the most effective treatment option for a variety of ailments and injuries. A physical therapist can help ease your symptoms and teach you why they occurred in the first place, whether you have just started waking up with generalized aches and pains or have been suffering from chronic pain for a long time.
A sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, an inadequate diet, or injury can all contribute to aches and pains. The bad news is that the discomfort will not subside on its own. The good news is that a physical therapist can help you get back on track!
Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of physical therapy.
Common causes of bodily aches and pains
Have you ever found yourself groaning in pain when you first try to get up in the morning? You might find yourself wondering if the problem is your mattress or your bed frame, but nine times out of ten, the problem is caused by something entirely different!
Here’s what your physical therapist would tell you if you suffer from generalized aches and pains when you wake up in the morning.
Inflammation of the tissues builds up in our bodies throughout the day. This can be very subtle, and you may not even notice it by the end of the day. However, as you lie down and sleep, the inflammation thickens and settles into your muscles. This causes joint immobilization, resulting in pain when you wake up. The same cycle will repeat itself day after day.
Eventually, if you do not make any lifestyle changes to fix the issue, chronic pain will set in. This is why calling our office for a consultation before the pain gets a chance to become that serious and debilitating, is a smart idea.
Benefits of physical therapy
Physical therapy is a safe, natural, and effective way to combat pain symptoms caused by various conditions and injuries. A physical therapist is a trained movement specialist who can not only treat and ease your symptoms but also prevent them from coming back by showing you how to move your body in the proper ways.
Your first visit with a physical therapist will involve a conversation about your symptoms and medical history, as well as some simple tests. Be prepared to answer questions about past injuries that may be contributing to your current aches and pains.
Your diet, your exercise routine, and your daily activities will also be discussed. This will help your therapist figure out what might be causing your aches and pains.
Following that, you will be given a series of tests based on your symptoms. These will include exercises to improve posture and range of motion, as well as strength and resistance tests.
When your therapist knows where you are experiencing aches and pains and has determined the likely causes, your personalized physical therapy treatment plan will be drawn up. It’s that simple!
What are some typical PT treatment methods?
Just like any other medical profession, a physical therapist has a wide range of tactics and techniques that can be deployed to help with pain management.
Here are just a few:
- Microcurrent stimulation to release serotonin
- Manual therapy
- Deep tissue massage
- Joint and bone manipulation
- Movement therapy and exercise
- Cold laser therapy to release endorphins
Your physical therapist has a wide range of tools and techniques to choose from within each of these categories. Running on a treadmill or working in a swimming pool, for example, are examples of movement therapy and exercise. It all depends on your physical state, the source of your aches and pains, and the treatment methods that are most likely to work.
Call us today to schedule an appointment
To manage your symptoms, you don’t have to keep popping over-the-counter pain relievers. If your life has been drastically altered by pain to the point where you feel you’ve exhausted all other options for dealing with it, it’s time to seek help from a physical therapist.
Your physical therapist will also work with you to teach you how to avoid aches and pains by leading a healthier lifestyle. This can include anything from home exercises and stretches to advice on staying hydrated and eating better.
The goal is to get you to a point where you are motivated to stay healthy without needing to go to physical therapy on a regular basis. All of this will aid in the alleviation of your aches and pains.
So, what do you have to lose? Get your life back on track and live the life you deserve. To make your first appointment with a trained and licensed physical therapist, call Advantage Physical Therapy today.
