Learn How Physical Therapy May Help You
Physical therapy is an effective treatment option for an incredibly wide range of diseases. It capitalizes on the body’s own ability to heal and strengthen itself in order to improve a patient’s quality of life. Treatment can be carried out over the course of a few weeks or several years. It uses factors such as exercise and diet to restore lost mobility, provide relief from chronic pain and discomfort or improve cognitive functionality.
While the list of diseases which can be treated is extensive, here are a few of the ones more commonly managed by physical therapy:
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Chronic pain and soreness
- Huntington’s Disease
- Lymphedema
- Muscular dystrophy
- Osteoporosis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
- Respiratory issues
The 4 Steps You Can Expect in Your Physical Therapy Treatment Plan
Each individual’s experience going through physical therapy will be different because everyone’s needs are different. Depending on the type and severity of your condition, as well as your goals for treating it, your physical therapist may have different recommendations for how to proceed. However, here are the four stages which you can expect on your physical therapy journey:
- Evaluation: Before a proper physical therapy plan can be made, it is important for a therapist to have a thorough understanding of your condition and specific needs. During the evaluation, your physical therapist will run a series of tests in order to assess certain aspects of your disease and its impact on your overall wellness.
- Diagnosis: Following the evaluation process, your physical therapist will make a clinical diagnosis of your condition informed by the tests they performed. This not only formalizes your condition, but also allows them to begin planning a treatment process based on this diagnosis.
- Treatment: Should you choose to proceed after diagnosis, you and your physical therapist will begin the actual treatment process. This usually consists of regular meetings where you work with your therapist through a series of exercises in order to improve strength or reduce discomfort. This period can last as long as the PT feels is necessary, given the specific characteristics of your disease.
- Self-management: During the process of your treatment and after, you will likely be given a series of exercises and dietary plans to follow on your own at home. These could be as simple as techniques for managing vertigo, to more complex workout plans aimed at targeting specific parts of the body. After your sessions with your physical therapist have concluded, in order for you to experience long term benefits, you will be required to maintain your treatment practices on your own. This strict self-management is the key to enjoying the enduring effects of physical therapy.
If you have a disease which is negatively impacting your health and wellbeing, it might be time to consider physical therapy treatment. PT’s ability to treat a wide range of diseases and conditions makes it a particularly versatile method which adapts to the specific requirements of each individual patient.
At Medical Rehabilitation Centers of PA, our team of highly skilled physical therapists offer patients a wealth of experience and knowledge for helping them to improve their quality of life. Our commitment to exemplary service and treatment is why we have cultivated our sterling reputation during over 40 years of operation.
To learn more about how physical therapy might be able to help improve your quality of life, book your appointment, contact us at the location of your choice, or complete our online form and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.