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What Do Physical Therapists Do and What Can They Treat?: 4 Conditions to See Your Therapist About Today

posted by Chris Valentine

Have you ever wondered what do physical therapists do and what conditions can they treat? Read on to find 4 common conditions they can help treat.

Sports are not only fun but they can benefit your health as well!

Not only will it strengthen your heart, but it’ll also lower your risk of hypertension, diabetes, and stroke. On top of all that, it can boost your mood!

There’s just one thing to be careful of—injuries. As it is, they’re more common than you think. To give you a better idea, there are more than 8.6 million sports-related injuries each year.

Fortunately, most are easily treatable. Depending on the injury, however, you might need to see a physical therapist.

What do physical therapists do? What conditions do they treat? Want to know? If so, be sure to read the rest of the post!

What Do Physical Therapists Do?

Physical therapists are healthcare professionals that work with patients to restore movement and relieve pain. This helps to prevent disability.

If anything, they play a major role in rehabilitation and the prevention of chronic conditions. You might need a referral from a doctor, though.

4 Conditions That Physical Therapists Treat

Physical therapists treat a number of conditions. Here are some of them.

1. Neck and Back Pain

Neck and back pain can be caused by a number of things. For example, it might be due to a motor vehicle accident or a lifting injury. In any case, a physical therapist will be able to treat the problem.

They might use massage therapy, heat therapy, electrotherapy, or ultrasound. There are also exercises and stretches that they can teach that will improve strength and flexibility in the neck and back.

Want to know more about how they treat lower back pain? You can read more here.

2. Stroke 

Physical therapists can help individuals relearn skills after a stroke. In doing so, they’ll be able to regain independence.

For example, they might stimulate the affected muscles and teach them basic movements. This will eventually allow them to perform daily activities such as putting on clothes and driving.

3. Orthopedic Injuries 

Physical therapy plays a key role in orthopedic injuries (e.g. stress fractures, tears, dislocations, sprains). It helps to facilitate recovery and improve function.

Depending on the issue, they might develop a treatment plan that consists of hands-on therapies or exercises. Re-teaching the body how to move safely is important as well for those who’ve undergone surgery.

4. Knee Pain 

Knee pain is a common problem, especially among older adults. It might be due to an injury such as a ruptured ligament or a medical condition such as arthritis.

How can a physical therapist help? They’ll come up with a plan to help rebuild strength and movement in the joint. For example, they might use electrotherapy. Strength training exercises can help as well.

The Importance of Physical Therapy 

Hopefully, that answers the question of “what do physical therapists do?”. As you can see, they treat a number of conditions—from pain to stroke!

Looking for more health-related articles? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog!

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