Sharing Information About Chiropractic Treatments

If your chiropractor thinks you should see a physical therapist, there is a good reason for it. If you're trying to decide whether you should give physical therapy a try, the first thing you should do is learn more about it.

To help you gain knowledge about this non-invasive discipline, here are the answers to three frequently asked questions about physical therapy.

1. What Conditions Does Physical Therapy Treat?

Physical therapy is often used to help a person during the rehabilitation stage following an injury, accident, or hospital stay. Physical therapy is usually used in conjunction with other modalities to treat a variety of ailments and medical conditions.

Here are some conditions that physical therapy can help with:

• Lymphedema
• Muscular dystrophy
• Back and neck pain
• Osteoporosis
• Vertigo
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Headaches
• Pelvic floor dysfunction

Physical therapy is also used to help treat conditions, such as cancer, that cause severe pain and disability. This type of therapy is also used to rehabilitate certain parts of the body, such as the ankles, knees, shoulders, and hips, following surgery.

2. What Are the Benefits of Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is all about body movement. The more you can move your body, the better you will feel. Besides that, moving your body is important for digestion and circulation. Moving the body will also improve your overall general health.

Other benefits of physical therapy include:

• Improves balance
• Increases flexibility
• Increases range of motion
• Prevents future injuries

Physical therapy can also help to manage age-related problems, such as joint stiffness and decreased mobility. Since this type of therapy reduces pain, it can help people avoid the use of opioids and pain medications that often have negative side effects.

3. Where Do People Go for Physical Therapy?

If your chiropractor has a licensed physical therapist on staff, you may be able to do physical therapy at the chiropractor's office. In other cases, your chiropractor might recommend an independent physical therapist. Physical therapists also work in private offices and clinics, nursing homes, and people's homes.

Besides working directly with the physical therapist, they will most likely give you stretching or strengthening exercises for you to do at home. The physical therapist will let you know how many sessions you'll need. On average, patients require 6 to 12 visits. Once your condition is improved, you may no longer need physical therapy, but you should still continue to move your body as much as possible.

For more information on physical therapy, reach out to a medical health professional.