National Physical Therapy Month is celebrated in October to celebrate the positive impact of physical therapy in the lives of patients suffering with pain, recovery and disability. Through a variety of campaigns and outreach programs more people are being made aware of the key role of physical therapy in promoting wellness and restoring function to patients.
The important benefits of physical therapy include:
- Physical therapy maximizes your mobility: Pain-free mobility plays a crucial role in helping you earn a living, stay independent, and improve your quality of life. Physical therapists have specialized training that makes them experts in identifying and treating problems related to mobility.
- Physical therapy lowers need for opioid pain medication: You may have noticed the trend in recent years of encouraging patients to try physical therapy for pain relief as opposed to prescription medication. Physical therapy is a much safer alternative for long-term pain relief when you consider opioid-related problems such as withdrawal symptoms, depression, overdose, and addiction.
- Physical therapy can help delay or avoid need for surgery: Some musculoskeletal conditions such as meniscal tears, arthritic joint pain, rotator cuff tears, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stiffness may be effectively treated with physical therapy. You can thus avoid the risks, complications, and expenses associated with surgery.
- Physical therapy promotes active participation in the recovery process: A physical therapist can help educate patients about the benefits of staying active and teach them how to do this safely. You will also be encouraged to set health goals, so progress can be monitored, and adjustments made to optimize outcomes.
Physical therapy promotes active participation in the recovery process: A physical therapist can help educate patients about the benefits of staying active and teach them how to do this safely. You will also be encouraged to set health goals, so progress can be monitored, and adjustments made to optimize outcomes.
If you have a musculoskeletal condition that is causing pain and affecting your lifestyle, visit your doctor or the specialists at NewportCare Medical Center to discuss physical therapy as a possible solution before you consider more invasive treatments.