We are celebrating National Physical Therapy Month by recognizing the immense value physical therapy provides and raising awareness on how physical therapy can benefit just about anyone.
What is Physical Therapy?
Essentially, physical therapy is health care that aims to ease pain and help you function, move, and live better, as summarized by WebMD.
People of all ages can participate in and benefit from physical therapy, as the service can treat a variety of health problems. Whether you’ve been in a car accident, suffer from a chronic condition like sciatica, or are finding that things are just harder than they used to be – congratulations! You’re one of the millions of Americans each year who could benefit from physical therapy.
Benefits of Physical Therapy
There are millions of people who benefit from receiving treatment, and there are just as many benefits and stories of recovering and healing.
In general, however, the most common benefits include:
Increase in physical function
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, more than 80% of adults and teens do not get enough physical activity in their daily lives. Physical therapists, as professional movement experts, help address this ever-growing epidemic by increasing the ability for people of all ages to achieve their physical activity goals, as well as participate in regular physical activity.
If things are harder than they used to be and you’re not able to live the lifestyle you want, contact Live Live Physiotherapy today. We’d be happy to meet with you and create a personalized wellness plan to help you live your best life.
Management of pain and chronic conditions
One of the most common benefits of physical therapy is the ability to help people manage pain. Patients with chronic disease can often benefit from a professionally and carefully created physical activity regimen that addresses their unique challenges.
Physical therapists’ unique value is in their personalized care and often hands-on approach to body mechanics.
Prevention of future injury
While physical therapy can help people recover from surgery or manage their pain, it can also be incredibly beneficial as preventive care. By addressing the root causes of problems before they become debilitating, physical therapy can improve quality of life in a meaningful way.
Decrease in need for surgery and prescription drugs
Through supervised, regular physical activity and carefully monitored progressions, physical therapy can reduce the need for surgery and prescription drugs, especially for those suffering from chronic conditions. All this also contributes to the benefit of reducing health care costs.
What training do physical therapists have?
Physical therapists, also called PTs or physiotherapists, are licensed health professionals. They have studied specific graduate training for physical therapy.
As professional movement experts, physical therapists evaluate your condition and develop a care plan that guides your therapy. They may perform hands-on treatments for your symptoms and they teach you special exercises to help you move and function better.
What is National Physical Therapy Month?
October is National Physical Therapy Month, and so we are celebrating the physical therapy profession – physical therapists, physiotherapists, physical therapist assistants, and physical therapy students – as well as the patients who benefit from receiving physical therapy.
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and participating components first celebrated Physical Therapy Week in the early 1980s during APTA’s annual conference.
