Many people are unaware of what physical therapy is and what it can do for them without drugs and without surgery. Today, I want to go over five common questions I hear at my practice and give you the answers so you can be more informed about the benefits of physical therapy.
1. What Is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is an absolute science, meaning something that’s been studied and proven out through a lot of testing and research. It provides hands-on techniques for relieving pain and restoring mobility and bodily function.
Physical therapists are experts in corrective exercise. This is not just exercising, but specific exercises to correct bodily conditions that are causing the pain. It also involves teaching you how to live a more active and healthier lifestyle, with good prevention and movement-based techniques. We provide lots of coaching as well so that you can learn to better handle your condition on your own.
2. What Is a Physical Therapist?
We are experts in the musculoskeletal system, which involves the interaction and movements of your muscles and bones. We’re also highly trained in neurological or nerve conditions as they relate to movement.
Essentially, we focus on neuromusculoskeletal conditions: neuro meaning the nervous system, musculo meaning the muscle system, and skeletal meaning the skeletal system.
Understanding that whole framework is why we’re experts in the body’s functions and movements in everyday life and activity. We learned how to teach you how to keep the body healthy and moving efficiently and effectively to prevent pain, injury, and further functional loss.
3. What Conditions Does Physical Therapy Address?
Physical therapists are trained to handle chronic pain and other medical conditions that limit movement, coordination, strength, and other physical aspects of life.
Physical Therapy for Chronic Pain
Because we are so trained on the functions and movements of the body, we can help with any type of chronic pain condition in your:
- Neck
- Back
- Knees
- Shoulders
- Hips
- Wrists
- Hands
Physical Therapy for Medical Conditions
We can also help with any condition that is degenerative or chronic, conditions that cause immobility, and recovery after an injury or surgery. Some common conditions we can address include:
- Inflammation
- Post-traumatic injuries (like a car accident or fall)
- Post-surgical pain or stiffness
- Simple hard work and overuse
- Strokes
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Dizziness
- Pre- and postsurgical rehab
- Women’s health
- Men’s health
4. How Long Does Physical Therapy Take?
The answer to this question varies from person to person because it absolutely depends on your specific circumstances. We won’t be able to answer this question with any certainty until you finish your screening.
I can give you some general examples to give you an idea of how long physical therapy can take:
- If someone has a muscle or ligament injury from an accident, it’s going to take about 6-12 weeks to get those tissues regenerating and functioning well on their own.
- For a condition like lower back pain due to overuse or bad posture can take as little as 4-6 weeks to handle and improve the function of those lower back muscles.
- Someone looking for post-surgical rehab will need about 6-12 weeks of physical therapy to reduce the inflammation, restore function, and learn how to exercise properly on their own. It can take anywhere from 6-12 months for your injury to completely heal, which is why we guide you on how to exercise properly so you don’t re-injure yourself.
In our clinic, most conditions take between 10-14 visits on average. The earlier you see a physical therapist for pain or post-injury, the sooner we can get you on the mend because our techniques can accelerate the healing process.
5. How Do I See a Physical Therapist?
You can certainly discuss this with your doctor, or call our practice and we will work with your doctor so you can come in to see us. If you’d like to come in for a screening on your own, you can do that; but we will ultimately collaborate with your doctor to ensure your healing goes as smoothly as possible.
In the state of Kansas, you aren’t required to have a referral to see a physical therapist, but we like to work with your primary care physician for your benefit. We’ll send a communication to your doctor and let them know what we found in your screening, as well as what we’re doing. We can also collaborate with your doctor on your treatment if it’s something that’s not in our scope of care.
Call Rebound Physical Therapy For Pain Relief
I hope the five points listed above help you understand physical therapy a little better. If you have any more questions, feel free to call us a (785) 367-3082 and we’ll be happy to help.
