Common Conditions Treated by Physical Therapy

When most people think of physical therapy, the first thing that comes to mind is geriatric treatment or sports injuries. The benefits of physical therapy treatment go much further though, being able to help with a wide variety of conditions. here are a few of the most common conditions treated by using physical therapy.

Sports Injuries:

The extent of a sports injury can range as something as simple as a muscle tear or sprain to broken bones and torn ligaments. Depending on the extent of the injury, physical therapy might play a larger role in the recovery process than others. For something like a sprain or muscle tear, massage and physical mobility exercises would be used to help relax the muscle and help build up strength and range of motion while the muscle itself heals. For something more severe, like a torn ligament or post-surgery leg fracture, physical therapy would initially work to help with balance and gait to help with learning how to get around despite the injury, while slowly working on the range of motion and muscle conditioning as the fracture heals.

Neurological Problems:

Physical therapy can be used to help someone who has a variety of neurological problems. One of the most common neurological problems that require physical therapy is a stroke. Depending on the severity of the stroke, the neural pathways that control motor function might have become damaged. Physical therapy can help retrain the brain to overcompensate for those damaged pathways over time and help recover motor function.

Scar Tissue Buildup:

Scar tissue can be painful and difficult to work with. Scar tissue from deep injuries and surgeries can limit mobility, as it isn't as flexible as other types of tissue such as muscle and cartilage. Through scar tissue massage, a physical therapist can help with scar tissue motility, essentially speeding up the conversion of scar tissue back into regular tissue. While it isn't going to happen overnight, it will help reduce the tension as well as relax the surrounding tissue as well, providing an overall benefit.

Joint Problems:

Joint issues like arthritis and other degenerative tissue disorders can severely limit your range of motion, making movements stiff and painful. Physical therapy can help alleviate some of that pressure through aqua therapy, in which movement exercises are done underwater. The water reduces the strain gravity puts on the joints, and the buoyancy helps loosen the joints further, making mobility much less painful and makes it easier to move and perform range of motion exercises. Physical therapy can also help with normal mobility through exercises that mimic everyday tasks like climbing stairs or reaching up to high shelves, not only training your body on how to properly overcompensate but also giving you methods of getting around safely in spite of your condition.

If you are recovering from an injury or have mobility issues that might be treatable through physical therapy, we welcome you to contact Swetlic Chiropractic & Physical Therapy in Mount Vernon, Ohio to schedule a consultation and get more information.