Most people only think about going to physical therapy following an injury or post-surgery. While those are both good reasons to schedule an appointment for physical therapy in Exeter, PA, or anywhere else, there are many reasons to go when you’re healthy too. These are just five ways it can improve your health and overall fitness.
Injury Prevention
Physical therapy not only helps you recover quicker from your injuries, but numerous studies have shown that going to a physical therapist can help prevent injuries from occurring in the first place. You’ll be taught various exercises to do at home before engaging in physical activities that are aimed at preventing injuries. Another significant benefit is that a physical therapist can help by identifying any imbalances in the body that might increase your risk for a particular injury or inhibit performance. By evaluating and addressing those factors, this will also contribute to injury prevention.
Improving Performance
A physical therapist can design a sport-specific workout program for athletes that can not only reduce injury risk but enhance athletic performance. This kind of training program typically incorporates warm-up exercises that can be performed before practices and games, emphasizing accurate sport-specific movements and body mechanics. The therapist can also provide advice on the best techniques and forms, working with you to help you reach your goals while assisting you in improving flexibility, endurance, and strength.
Decreasing the Need for Surgical Intervention
If you’re suffering from a condition that’s led you to consider surgery, you might want to try physical therapy first. Surgery comes with a risk for infection and blood clots, not to mention a lengthy recovery time. But in many cases, going to a physical therapist can correct the problem and prevent the need for surgery altogether. Arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, and strains are just a few of the issues that PT can help with. Of course, sometimes surgery is unavoidable, but PT can help speed recovery post-surgery as well.
Improving Flexibility
Flexibility is an essential component of overall fitness, and it provides many benefits for the body. It helps to improve posture, muscle coordination, and mobility while reducing the risk of muscle soreness and injury. It can even lead to a more attractive body shape and decrease pain. Your body will feel better overall when it’s more flexible. With muscles less tense, you won’t experience as many aches and pains and will be less likely to develop muscle cramps.
Many physical therapy programs are designed to improve joint and muscle flexibility by working through various stretching techniques and perhaps using heat therapy to loosen tight tendons and muscles.
Better Balance
As you age, your risk for falls that can cause serious injuries increases. That’s because balance decreases while bones are becoming more brittle, and there is also a greater likelihood of having health issues that affect balance. With better balance, it can improve your ability to take part in more strenuous activities as well as typical day-to-day tasks. Physical therapists can help by creating a program that includes various types of exercises designed to improve balance whether you’re walking, standing, or taking part in an exercise regimen.
