Do You Have These 5 Symptoms? If So, Physical Therapy Can Help

At our physical therapy clinic, our experienced team members work with older adults, men, women, and children who are facing a variety of acute and chronic health problems. But it's not just pain that we can help with! Every one of our physical therapists has received advanced training in anatomy, human movement, and more. This means there are many ways a physical therapist can improve your function and quality of life, as well as several signs and symptoms in addition to "just" pain that we can alleviate and address at the root cause.

Ever wondered if physical therapy could help you? Keep reading to see our top signs that it may be time to consult with a physical therapist at TheraFit™ Physical Therapy & Fitness Center.

5 Signs It's Time to See a Physical Therapist

1. Dizziness and Vertigo

Dizziness and vertigo (the sensation that the room is spinning around you) can be incredibly disruptive to your daily life. While they may have several underlying causes, these symptoms are often a sign of vestibular disorders like benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

A physical therapist is trained in the diagnosis and treatment of BPPV and can prescribe a range of treatments that will alleviate this uncomfortable sensation, including the Eply's maneuver and gaze stabilization exercises. In many cases, people with BPPV experience near-complete resolution of their symptoms after just one or two sessions!

2. Imbalance, Incoordination, and Fearfulness of Falling

Loss of balance and coordination can happen as part of the aging process, but may also occur after things like a stroke or nerve damage caused by diabetes or radiculopathy. In some cases, these changes can lead to falls, which not only impose the risk of injury but can also make a person afraid of falling again. Unfortunately, research shows that fearfulness of falling may prevent a person from moving about, which only further contributes to weakness and imbalance. And the weaker a person is, the more at risk they are of recurring falls. Talk about a vicious cycle!

A physical therapist can work with you or your loved one to improve balance, coordination, motor control, and postural awareness. Through exercises and education, we help you regain the confidence as well as physical skills necessary to remain safer and more active in your daily life. In some cases, we may also prescribe adaptive equipment and tools to augment and support your function and safety.

3. Sports Injury, Work Injury, or Other or Traumatic Event

One "sign" that it may be time to consult with a physical therapist is if you ever experience any sort of acute traumatic event, like a fall, auto accident, or injury on the job or during an athletic event. Even if you feel "fine" immediately after the incident, there still could be underlying tissue damage that simply isn't noticeable right away. This is because stress hormones like adrenaline can mask pain and signs of tissue injury in your body…at least until they return to their pre-accident levels.

By consulting with a physical therapist ASAP after an accident, we can help identify warning signs of tissue damage and initiate early treatment to reduce inflammation and prevent further damage. And unlike medication, physical therapy can also help address underlying factors, like weak or short muscles, that either contributed to the event in the first place or may otherwise delay your healing.

4. Joint Stiffness, Instability, and Weakness

In addition to pain, our physical therapy patients also come to us with concerns about other ailments like joint stiffness or hypomobility, joint instability or hypermobility, weakness, numbness, and tingling. This often coincides with other symptoms such as decreased activity tolerance and fatigue.

Exercises, non-invasive modalities, manual therapy, and the prescription of orthotics and other adaptive devices can all be incredibly helpful and provide a more cost-effective solution than medications.

5. Any New Physical Diagnosis, Change in Function, or Health Concern

A physical therapist is licensed to treat a wide number of health conditions. So if you recently received a new diagnosis, consider finding out if a physical therapist can be a helpful part of your medical team. Conditions we treat at our physical therapy clinic include:

  • Musculoskeletal conditions like muscle strains, ligament sprains, tendonitis, bursitis, and impingement syndrome
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
  • Amputations
  • Neurological conditions including Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis
  • Autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis
  • Pediatric conditions including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and sensory processing disorders
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Low back pain
  • Pelvic floor dysfunction
  • Sciatica
  • Debility and weakness following prolonged hospitalization or treatment for an illness such as cancer, the flu, or COVID-19
  • Post-operative recovery from things like joint replacement and heart surgery

Need Help Feeling Your Best? Physical Therapy Provides Relief From a Range of Conditions and Symptoms

Whether you have chronic pain or some other health concern, we invite you to call TheraFit Physical Therapy & Fitness Center today to schedule an appointment. A physical therapist can work with you to provide efficient and effective relief from a range of concerns and health issues. It'd be our honor to join you on your journey toward better health and function!

Relieve Your Arthritis Pains with Physical Therapy Treatments

Are you suffering from the aches, pains, and stiffness of arthritis? If so, you’re not alone. There are millions of people who live with arthritis, and it is no secret that it can limit your life. Fortunately, participating in regular physical therapy treatments can help manage your arthritis pain and reduce your symptoms. For more information on how our services can decrease or even eliminate your pain altogether, contact our office today!

What will I get out of a physical therapy program?

Physical therapy can improve your daily life by making it easier to live with arthritis. Just a few of the many ways this is accomplished is by:

  • Learning how to correctly use devices. A trained physical therapist can help you learn how to use orthotics, walkers, and any other assistive device correctly. This will help lessen the strain on joints when you move and ensure that you are using the devices safely.
  • Increasing your range of motion. A physical therapy program can help reduce stiffness by keeping both your muscles and ligaments loose. This will lessen your pain and improve your overall range of mobility.
  • Strengthening your muscles. When the muscles that surround and support your aching joints are stronger and more flexible, your arthritis pain will be much less severe. Physical therapy techniques can be used to increase strength, which in turn will relieve pain.

What exactly is physical therapy?

Unfortunately, there is not yet a known cure for arthritis. Physical therapy won’t reverse your arthritic condition, but it can help slow the process and decrease symptoms. Essentially, physical therapy can help you live more comfortably with your condition.

Your physical therapist will prescribe targeted exercises and stretches that will keep joints mobile and pain-free. He or she may also help you maintain a healthy body weight as needed, in order to decrease unnecessary strain on your joints.

Physical therapy may also help you avoid taking excessive amounts of medication in order to reduce your pain. A physical therapist is trained to evaluate your condition and provide the correct exercises to meet your needs. A common physical therapy exercise for arthritis patients is aquatic therapy, as working out in water allows for a soothing and non-impact exercise.

How can diet affect my arthritis?

Did you know that a healthy diet can help decrease arthritis pains? When you are experiencing pain and inflammation, it is important to stay away from foods containing high levels of sugar, MSG, and refined carbs. Some foods that can help ease your symptoms include:

  • Ginger. Ginger may be able to help reduce inflammation and alleviate arthritis pain. It also adds incredible flavor to almost any food, including soups, fruits, veggies, and meat.
  • Soy. Soy is high in protein and low in fat, and it is also a great tasting way to fight inflammation. You can get your soy through tofu, soy milk, or roasted soybeans.
  • Broccoli. Broccoli has an ingredient called sulforaphane, which has the ability to slow down or even prevent osteoarthritis. Broccoli is great served hot or cold, in salads, or as a casserole.
  • Walnuts. Much like the nutrients you find in fish, walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce inflammation. Walnuts can be eaten alone or added to almost any sweet or salty dish.

The goals of a physical therapist:

Physical therapists are trained in multiple different methods of treatment. One of the most common treatment methods for arthritis is massage, as it is a great way to loosen up the stiff or inflamed muscles and tendons around the arthritic joint(s). Additional treatments may include ice and heat therapies, ultrasound, or laser therapy as your physical therapist deems fit. These all help in decreasing inflammation, relieving pain, and loosening up tight muscles.

One of the many goals of a physical therapist is to help you achieve the most active lifestyle possible for your condition. Just because you have arthritis doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the activities you love! Your physical therapist will design an individualized treatment plan for you, in order to keep your tendons, muscles, and joints working together in harmony.

Are you ready to relieve your arthritis pains? Contact our office today to get started on your journey toward long-lasting relief!

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The Top 5 Best Ways Therapeutic Massage Will Benefit an Athlete

Any athlete will understand the importance of maintaining their health in order to keep up with the physical demands of their sport. If you’ve recently sustained an injury, it is important to make sure that you are keeping up with your physical therapy treatments in order to regain your optimum levels of physical function. Many physical therapy treatment plans will incorporate therapeutic massage as a way to relieve pain and promote healing. There are several benefits to therapeutic massage – here are the top 5:

1. Therapeutic massage improves posture.

When coupled with other kinds of physical therapy, massage can do a lot of good for your posture. Massage helps bring your body into an optimal place of alignment, which can naturally improve your posture. Better posture has multiple benefits for athletes. When you maintain a proper posture, your body can move at its peak at all times — which means you’ll be playing your sport with a bit of a natural advantage built in.

2. Therapeutic massage increases circulation.

Regular massage during your physical therapy program can considerably improve your circulation. Better circulation means that your muscles get the blood supply needed in order to prevent stiffness and tension. Your muscles will work and feel better after a therapeutic massage.

3. Therapeutic massage decreases scar tissue.

When you’re injured, your body forms adhesions around the injury, which are bands of tough scar tissue. These adhesions can cause serious pain, restrict your movement, and delay your recovery for a lengthy amount of time if they are not treated. A therapeutic massage can efficiently deal with those adhesions. Your physical therapist can use specific targeted techniques to unbind your muscles and break up the adhesions. This is an important component of your physical therapy program because being adhesion-free is essential for both pain relief and for your range of motion.

4. Therapeutic massage improves the immune system.

Sickness can be extra hard on athletes. Just one bad cold or flu can keep you out away from the sport you love for weeks — and you might not feel your best for quite some time after that, as well. Fortunately, massage helps boost your immune system’s natural defenses. During a massage, your body is prompted to power up its natural cytotoxic capacity, which means your immune system will be able to fight off illness, germs, and bacteria more effectively.

5. Therapeutic massage relaxes muscles.

While muscle relaxation is the best-known benefit of massage, it takes on a whole new importance for an athlete. Muscle pain, soreness, and tightness are all things that you expect as an athlete — but the good news is that you can greatly decrease these issues with regular therapeutic massage. Even after you’ve completed a physical therapy program following an injury, you could still benefit from regular massages with your physical therapist.

Confirm your appointment today:

Keeping your body in a strong condition is a large part of being an athlete. Physical therapy can help you with that. Your physical therapist will asses your condition and prescribe the best treatment plan for your needs. Therapeutic massage can help you feel your best, even if you only participate in treatments once or twice a month. By taking the time to improve your physical health, you’ll be able to perform at your optimum levels of function.

Do you want to relieve your pain, recover from an injury, or simply improve your athletic performance? Contact us today to confirm your appointment and find out for yourself how therapeutic massage can benefit you!

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