You’ve likely felt it: that nagging tension in your shoulders, a strange bout of dizziness, or the frustration of a persistent ache that just won’t go away. You might assume these are just “part of getting older” or that you just need to “push through.” But what if you didn’t have to?
Physical therapy isn’t just for post-surgery recovery or major sports injuries. As movement experts, physical therapists (PTs) are trained to optimize how your entire body functions. If you’ve been searching for a way to move more freely, feel more capable, and finally address those mysterious discomforts, you might be overlooking the best tool in your wellness toolkit.
1. Physical therapists use “prehab” programs to prevent injuries
Why wait until you are hurt or in pain to see a professional? Do you want to improve your athletic performance? Maybe you’re starting a couch-to-5K workout program, or you just joined the local roller derby team and want to make sure you’re not getting in over your head. Are you dreaming of powder days at your local ski and snowboard resort and want to be sure an injury doesn’t sideline you for the season?
Perhaps you simply want to enjoy your days at home with optimized fitness so you can tackle tasks without worrying about hurting yourself or causing pain to set in and linger for days.
Prehab is the proactive approach to movement health. Instead of reacting to an injury, physical therapists evaluate your movement patterns, strength, and mobility to identify hidden vulnerabilities. By addressing these “weak links” before they become a problem, we help you build the resilience needed to stay active
Learn more about our sports therapy programs today!
2. Physical therapists teach breathing techniques to lower stress
Who would have thought that we can influence how we feel by being aware of how we breathe? When we breathe, we use a large muscle called the diaphragm which separates your chest from your abdominal cavity and has connections to your vagus nerve. The cool thing about this is that the vagus nerve, when stimulated (mainly during exhalation), increases activity in the parasympathetic nervous system. “What system?” you ask, and “Why does this matter?”
The parasympathetic nervous system is a vast network of nerve fibers that have connections from your brain to various organs in your body. It is mainly responsible for the rest and digest actions of our body, contributing to a reduction in your sense of anxiety, stress, and muscle tension, among other things.
A physical therapist who is a specialist in breathing dysfunction can teach techniques to harness the power of the diaphragm and vagus nerve, stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, and resulting in better overall mental well-being.
Amazingly, this is only the tip of the iceberg! Learn about our Breathworks program and how PT can help.
3. PTs perform spinal manipulations to relieve back pain
Patients frequently say they didn’t know we could “crack” their backs just like a chiropractor. In fact, physical therapists have always been performing manipulations when appropriate. Research demonstrates that, under the right circumstances, this targeted, hands-on approach can dramatically increase the chances of recovery from back pain while also improving the range of motion and overall function of the spine.
Your PT will conduct a thorough assessment to evaluate your medical history, the specific nature of your back pain, and any contributing factors such as posture, muscle imbalances, or joint mobility issues. Once the assessment leads to a clear understanding of the root cause of your back pain, if appropriate your PT will perform precise and controlled manual manipulations on the affected areas of your spine. These manipulations involve applying controlled force to the joints, typically through specific techniques such as spinal adjustments or mobilizations.
It’s important to note that physical therapists are highly trained to perform these manipulations safely. If you begin physical therapy within 14 days after the onset of your back pain, have no symptoms below the knee, and a few other key factors that the physical therapist can evaluate, you are 20 times more likely to have a successful outcome within two visits. Who wouldn’t want that?
Learn more about back and neck pain care and get started today!
4. Physical therapists can help you understand your dizziness and/or imbalance issues
Have you ever had an episode of dizziness and didn’t know why? Have you found that over time, your balance is not as great as it used to be? These symptoms can lead to decreased activity levels, anxiety, and a more sedentary lifestyle. With a thorough examination by your physical therapist, you may benefit from vestibular rehabilitation therapy.
The vestibular system is composed of parts of the inner ear, related nerves, and the brain which processes sensory information regarding balance and eye movements. Vestibular dysfunction is a major risk factor for falls.
Many factors can affect these issues, including age related degeneration of inner ear structures, medications (i.e., some antibiotics), head injuries, or potentially serious neurological conditions like stroke. Depending on the diagnosis, your therapist may perform some repositioning maneuvers. You may also be instructed in exercises designed to retrain the brain to adjust for disorienting signals, create new strategies to maintain balance, decrease dizziness, and improve your quality of life.
Successful vestibular therapy can take as few as 1-2 sessions!
5. Physical therapists use pain neuroscience to treat chronic discomfort
Nothing seems to be working. You are stressed and anxious. You don’t know if this will ever get any better – even the doctors don’t know what is going on. Does this sound familiar?
Research shows that, in order to treat individuals with more complex issues, we need to begin to look at the psycho-social model (beliefs, fears, “the stories that we hold”) first before movement therapy. The way you think about pain can change how it feels.
What would this look like? It may take the form of sitting down for a brief period with your therapist one-on-one. They may use a booklet, slides, or even videos to assist. They will cover important concepts such as what pain is, factors that can influence it, how your body’s response/alarm system has become sensitized, and most importantly, what can be done to calm it down.
Understanding that your discomfort experience is influenced by your nervous system and how your brain processes pain will allow you to move better, think about your persistent discomfort differently, and push your physical comfort zone further.
Learn more about how pain neuroscience can impact chronic pain.
Start your PT journey today.
From injury recovery to achieving optimal performance, our passion is to help every patient reach their goals and live an active, pain-free life.
