Medically reviewed by Misty Seidenburg
An essential part of staying healthy is to listen to your body and pay attention to the physical cues that signal something is off and needs attention. Seeking the expertise of a physical therapist can help you ensure that you’re addressing your concerns and also taking steps to be proactive in your care before something becomes a larger issue.
Physical therapists are movement experts who can help you identify the underlying issue contributing to your pain or discomfort and help you get on the pathway to alleviating pain, restoring mobility, and performing everyday activities with confidence.
Take a look at these signs that you may benefit from physical therapy at one of our nationwide locations and request a physical therapy appointment to see how physical therapy can help you alleviate pain and get back to doing the things you love most.
Some injuries seem like nothing at first. You trip and fall, lightly turn an ankle, or feel a “pinch” that doesn’t seem right. While certain injuries may not pose an immediate cause of concern or cause you to rush to the emergency room, that doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t need to follow up with a physical therapist. If you’re still feeling pain two or three days after the injury, you should reach out to request an appointment.
Any lingering pain felt after a seemingly minor injury can be a sign that there may be more than what lies on the surface. This is why the expertise of a physical therapist can come in handy. Physical therapists are able to identify and recognize injuries and their potential prolonged effects if left untreated. Physical therapy can provide an effective approach to one’s pain by dealing with the current issue while also implementing contingencies to reduce the chance of the injury worsening over time.
If you’re experiencing recurrent dull or sharp pain, something may be wrong. Recurring pain can show up in a number of ways:
Headaches: Recurring headaches can be the result of neck and back tension. A physical therapist can implement exercises and other techniques to limit the frequency and severity of your headaches.
Back Pain: One of the most common complaints among adults, back pain can be the result of poor ergonomics, poor posture, or poor form when performing strenuous activities. Physical therapy can target the cause of your back pain and help alleviate back tension.
Neck Pain: Neck pain is like back pain in that it can be the result of poor posture, poor sleeping positions, or stress. A trained physical therapist will identify why you’re experiencing neck pain and create a plan to alleviate it.
Regardless of the type of pain or pain levels, they can hinder you from engaging in day-to-day activities. Physical therapists are trained to identify the root cause of pain and evaluate any weaknesses, mobility issues, and potential prolonged discomfort. Physical therapists can address any immediate concerns and focus on preventative measures for the future.
Recurring pain is a sign of a pain that needs to be addressed and physical therapy can help you address it.
If you’ve been experiencing the feeling that the room is spinning or you’re consistently losing your balance, these may be symptoms of a condition such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
Physical therapists understand how to diagnose and treat BPPV with a wide range of treatments designed to alleviate this uncomfortable sensation. In many cases, individuals with BPPV can recover fully from their symptoms after a few sessions.
Conditions like dizzines, loss of balance, and vertigo not only disrupt day to day activities but can also expose potential issues lying beneath the surface. Utilizing physical therapy can be helpful because it addresses the root cause of injuries and focuses on implementing comprehensive strategies to treat those injuries. One way to manage it is through vestibular rehabilitation, which consists of exercises that can help to improve your balance over time. Having a physical therapy program tailored to your specific needs is an important step towards managing dizziness and vertigo.
Another sign you could use physical therapy is joint instability, pain, or stiffness. Joint pain may be attributed to arthritis, but it can also be the result of a long-term issue from a previous injury or another underlying concern.
The problem is you need your joints to move, so you can only ignore the problem for so long until you become immobile. That’s when individuals end up having to take more invasive measures like partial or full joint replacement.
With physical therapy, you can increase the longevity of your joints through exercises, non-invasive modalities, manual therapy, orthotics, and other adaptive devices.
Physical therapists can address joint issues by creating a treatment plan that aims to ease pain and restore function to your joints. These routines may consist of a variety of exercises to improve joint stability and strength.
In many cases, patients know they need to see a physical therapist because they’ve had to avoid certain movements due to the discomfort. For example, they can’t sit down without assistance or have difficulty single-stepping their way up and downstairs.
Whether it’s because of a diagnosed condition like arthritis, recovering from an injury or stroke, or an issue with unknown origins, physical therapy can help patients retrain their bodies and resume everyday activities and the hobbies they love.
To maintain your overall health, it is important to listen to your body and act to ensure that you’re doing all you can to stay healthy. By addressing your concerns with a physical therapist, you will have the opportunity to alleviate pain and ensure that you can continue to perform everyday activities with minimal discomfort.
Find a physical therapy clinic near you and request an appointment to see how physical therapy can help you.
