Physical therapy can help to restore movement and function and reduce pain, if a person is affected by injury, illness, or disability. It can also be an effective tool to help reduce the risk of injuries in the future. The frequency of visits and duration of treatment can vary depending on individual needs and symptoms.
Physical therapy uses a multidisciplinary approach to treat a variety of acute and chronic orthopedic problems that can cause disability, such as arthritis, back pain and sports-related injuries. It uses a range of manual therapy techniques and therapeutic interventions to improve strength, mobility, and function, reduce swelling, improve circulation, and alleviate pain.
Customized, One-on-One Treatment
Physical therapy is personalized to meet your specific needs. Whether your symptoms are mild or severe enough to limit your functional mobility, affecting your day-to-day life, your therapist can design a one-to-one physical therapy program that works best for you and aims to improve your condition and symptoms, and to strengthen weak or vulnerable areas to prevent re-injury.
At your initial visit with your physical therapist, they will evaluate your medical history, condition, symptoms, and other factors such as your lifestyle and fitness level. Your therapist may also assess your strength, flexibility, and motor functions. This evaluation allows the therapist to gain a better understanding of your condition and how it is affecting your life and what your limitations are, in order to create a suitable treatment program.
Your physical therapist will work with you to develop a treatment program that is designed to support your healing and personal health goals, and to enable you to achieve a successful outcome. Treatment is customized to your individual needs and is designed to be at a pace you are comfortable with. To get the most out of physical therapy, patients are encouraged to take a proactive approach to their treatment. This means listening to and following the therapist’s advice and guidance and adhering to your home exercise program and pain relief techniques as directed.
Frequency of Physical Therapy
The frequency of physical therapy sessions can vary from patient to patient and depends on a range of factors, such as the degree of injury, type of condition, severity of symptoms, age, lifestyle, and your level of progress at each session. At your initial evaluation, your therapist will advise you on the recommended number of treatments and how frequently you should attend appointments in order to reach your goals successfully and recover as soon as possible.
Initially, patients may be required to attend two to three sessions per week, particularly for acute injuries, complex conditions, or post-surgery rehabilitation. This allows the therapist to closely monitor their patients progress and to make any necessary adjustments to help improve recovery.
The frequency of visits is typically lessened once progress is being made and when the patient is comfortably able to self-manage their treatment better with their home exercise plan and with any necessary lifestyle changes. Sessions may be reduced to once per week and then fortnightly depending on the patient’s needs.
For an acute injury, physical therapy may only be required short-term until the injury is healing successfully. Whereas for advanced or degenerative conditions, such as arthritis, physical therapy may be recommended on a longer-term basis to reduce pain and stiffness in the joint, and to gradually strengthen joints that have been weakened by damage to help improve mobility and range of motion.
Your physical therapist may recommend a follow-up visit periodically, depending on your condition, to ensure the continuity of progressive therapy and to avoid re-injury.
What Conditions Can Physical Therapy Treat?
The main aim of physical therapy is to restore function and mobility in the musculoskeletal system, which includes the joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. It uses a multidisciplinary approach to help patients of all ages and activity levels to regain or improve their strength, movement, and function, which may have been limited as a result of suffering a medical condition, injury, or illness.
It can be used effectively on many parts of the body, such as the spine, knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, and foot. For conditions affecting the hands, a hand therapist may be recommended. They have specialized training in the complex anatomy of the hand and wrist, including post-operative therapy programs.
Physical therapy can be an effective type of treatment for a wide range of health conditions and injuries, including:
- Sports injuries, such as sprains, strains, hamstring injuries, tendonitis, tennis elbow, ACL tears, and rotator cuff injuries
- Work-related injuries and conditions, such as muscle strains, carpal tunnel syndrome, and fractures
- Back and neck problems
- Joint disorders, such as dislocations, bursitis, and arthritis
- Chronic conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia
As well as helping to treat a variety of injuries and health conditions, physical therapy may also be recommended before or after some types of surgery to help speed up recovery. Physical therapy can help to improve strength and function and to promote healing in the affected area. It can also help to reduce scar tissue formation and the risk of complications such as blood clots, infection, and contractures.
Physical Therapy Services in Johnson City, TN
If you are interested in finding out how physical therapy could benefit you, contact Watauga Orthopaedics for expert care. We provide customized treatment plans and personalized one-on-one care to help relieve your pain and restore your movement and function, allowing you to return to your normal activities as soon as possible.
We provide a range of comprehensive orthopedic services, including sports medicine, joint replacements, fracture care, arthroscopy, reconstructive surgery, neuromusculoskeletal care, rehabilitation services, and much more.
To learn more about our services, or to schedule an appointment with our physical therapy team, contact us today at (423) 282-9011. We have three convenient locations to serve you in Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol.
