The best thing to do after an injury is to seek the appropriate medical attention. A specialist will best be able to understand the degree of your injuries and outline what the best treatment plan is for a speedy recovery with long lasting results. Please note, you should also check with your health insurance company about any requirements they may have to address the need for specialized care (i.e. In or Out of a network or referral requirements). Then, make an appointment without delay. The best way to heal is by following the prescribed treatment plan.

Physical Therapists are specialists in how to design an exercise regimen that works to restore your activity, strength and motion following an injury or surgery. They will guide and teach you specific exercises, stretches and techniques and they are trained to use specialized equipment to address problems that cannot be managed with specialized physical therapy training alone.

The first consideration a Physical Therapist makes is focused on the goal of identifying deficiencies in the bio-mechanics of the body. He/she can then target specific areas of weakness in the way our bodies work. And, they can relieve stress and/or pain by helping your body function at its maximum capacity. They are trained to be knowledgeable about surgical procedures in order to establish treatment goals that will improve your well-being while also recognizing any limitations to ensure a successful outcome.

The importance of Stretching Tight Muscles and Joints

Stretching is vital in maintaining good range of motion for your muscles and joints. When you have stiff joints or tight muscles, normal activities, even those as simple and natural as climbing stairs, walking or reaching over your head can be severely affected with pain. By using proper stretching exercises, these simple daily functions can be recovered and/or preserved.

After an injury or surgery, scar tissue forms and soft tissue contracts. It is important to regularly stretch in these situations to ensure that scar formation does not get in the way of your rehabilitation.

Exercises to Strengthen Your Body

Strengthening exercises are performed to help you improve the function of your muscles. Some of the most common areas of focus are for knee, shoulder, back and neck injuries. It is key to recognize post-operative limitations with the goal of improving strength, increasing endurance and maintaining or improving your range of motion.

The most recent developments in Physical Therapy

Physical therapy now places an emphasis on the need to strengthen the core for strength and stability. Your core is the foundation of your body and functions like the foundation of your house. If you built your home with a weak foundation you would find it deteriorating in the weakest areas first and risk costly damages to other areas. The same is true of your body where weak core muscles and joints will result in the fast development of weaknesses in your body that eventually lead to damage and collapse or lack of function or motion. And, you become more susceptible to new injuries and chronic pain or discomfort. Physical Therapists use core strengthening techniques to re-build and strengthen the back and pelvis muscles. These techniques are also employed by professional athletes in their workouts which now typically include regular Pilates workouts.

Using Ice and Heat

Ice and heat are helpful in the process of cooling off or warming up target areas. Each treatment method can stimulate blood flow which enhances healing or decreases swelling which relieves pain. These are important facets of the therapeutic treatment plan. The key to using ice or heat properly is in recognizing the degree of the injury and in the knowing which application is best in treating it.

Ultrasound Technology

High frequency sound waves (not within the range we can hear) is the basis of Ultrasound Technology which can be used to stimulate deep tissue within the body. By passing an ultrasound probe over your body, deep tissues are stimulated by the vibration of the sound wave. This leads to warming and increased blood flow to these tissues.

Electrical Stimulation

Another therapy that passes an electrical current to an affected area is known as simply, “Electrical Stimulation”. It enhances nerve conduction within a target region which can result in altering muscle “contractility”. Blood flow to these tissues is also increased with electrical stimulation. Patients often experience diminished pain after this electrical stimulation of treatment.

Again, the best way to take care of your injuries is to take care of you with the guidance of a Physical Therapist. These professionals are trained in post-operative rehabilitation methods and the overall rehabilitation treatment techniques in the interest of maximizing the strength, functionality and motion of the human body.