What is physical therapy and how can it help me?

Physical therapists are highly trained medical professionals that specialize in treating injuries and illnesses that limit a person’s functional mobility.  Physical therapists receive extensive education that allows them to evaluate, diagnose,  and develop treatment plans that help to restore functional mobility and return patients to pain-free active lifestyles. A physical therapist is a movement specialist, educated in analyzing mobility issues with walking, running, jumping, bending, stretching, and almost every other form of physical activity. Curran PT’s physical therapists can pinpoint problem areas and create a customized treatment plan aimed at improving those areas. Through in-office sessions and at-home exercises, patients strengthen their muscles and joints, improve their balance, build endurance, and experience pain relief, all without the unwanted harmful risks of drugs or surgery. 

In general, physical therapy is the most conservative treatment a patient can receive when experiencing pain or difficulty with movement. Most commonly it consists of three important phases: pain relief, strengthening, and functional integration.  Pain relief is obtained through skilled manual therapy aimed at reducing restrictions in the body’s fascial system caused by injury, surgery, or poor posture. Strength and mobility training is used to improve the body’s ability to move and stabilize improving safety and tolerance with normal daily movement or more dynamic exercise-related activities. Functional integration utilizes improvements made in strength, mobility, and body mechanics allowing patients to restore function and return to all activities pain-free. 

Freedom of movement with stability and without pain is the key component to an independent active lifestyle.  Curran PT will create an individualized treatment plan geared towards increasing your strength, flexibility, balance, and overall mobility. We will instruct and supervise you with the correct execution of all prescribed exercises and self-treatment techniques. Once independence is achieved with the proper form and mechanics of each exercise, then a home exercise program will be provided.

How will physical therapy help me?

The purpose of physical therapy remains the same, no matter what you are seeking its services for. Perhaps you are still suffering from the lingering pain of an injury. Perhaps you are recovering from surgery and trying to get your range of motion back. Perhaps your joints simply aren’t what they used to be, and you are looking for relief. Whatever the case may be, physical therapists are dedicated to relieving your pain and getting you back to your peak level of physical health. 

In the end, an active lifestyle is more than possible, even if you struggle with chronic pain. If you are looking to improve your health, strength, and physical activity, look no further – we are here to help. Schedule a consultation with one of our physical therapists today and get started on your journey toward better health and wellness!