Physical Therapy

What is physical therapy?

Physical therapy is the application of medical science to correct impairments and heal injuries through physical treatments like stretching and exercising. Therapy manipulates joints that have suffered damage, either from injury or disease.

Recovering from an injury or managing a disease with physical therapy helps you manage your pain while maintaining or improving your range of motion. The goal of physical therapy is to improve your quality of life and reduce pain. 

Orthopaedic Specialists offers same-day appointments for physical therapy patients. That means if you come in for joint pain or an injury and Dr. Downs recommends physical therapy, you can start your treatment plan right away.

What are the benefits of physical therapy?

Physical therapy is a customizable treatment for a wide range of injuries and diseases affecting your musculoskeletal system. With physical therapy, there’s no risk of side effects like those that come along with medications or surgery. You can achieve healing and improved function without the need for drugs or invasive procedures.

The benefits of physical therapy include:

• Decreased pain
• Improved flexibility
• Improved mobility
• Greater strength
• Restored functional ability
• Better quality of life

Physical therapy focuses on controlled movements, stretches, and exercises that restore mobility and balance to joints, tendons, and muscles throughout the body.

What can I expect with physical therapy?

Dr. Downs and the physical therapists at Orthopaedic Specialists develop personalized physical therapy treatment plans for each patient. Your journey begins with a full exam, discussion of your medical history, and testing that can include an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan.

Common physical therapy techniques include joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, and therapeutic exercises. Therapy can be used to improve overall joint mobility in daily life or it can be focused on improving your ability to perform a very specific task, like overhead reaching. 

Your physical therapist guides you through controlled movements and exercises during your session. In some cases, you’re given exercises and stretches that you can do on your own at home to speed healing and improve function.

The duration of your physical therapy sessions, as well as the frequency of your appointments,  depends on your treatment plan. Many patients see the best results with a series of sessions multiple times a week when they first begin physical therapy.

Find top-quality physical therapy at Orthopaedic Specialists. Request an appointment online or call the office nearest you today.