Article At A Glance
- Physical therapy offers targeted relief, improves balance, reduces fall risk, breaks up scar tissue, improves joint flexibility, and strengthens body function.
- Ideal for rehabilitation after orthopedic surgery, injury care for various sprains, and sports-related injuries.
- Specialized orthopedic rehab exercises are personalized to your needs.
Is there a more personalized approach to treating minor injuries, arthritis, chronic pain, or similar conditions? Enter orthopedic physical therapy, an excellent option for anyone wanting to manage musculoskeletal conditions, alleviate pain, and heal from injuries or surgery. Could orthopedic injury recovery therapy programs benefit you? Read more to explore whether orthopedic physical therapy could be your answer to a fuller life.
Table of Contents
- What Is Orthopedic Physical Therapy?
- Benefits of Physical Therapy
- Physical Therapy for Orthopedic Conditions
- Specialized Orthopedic Rehab Exercise
- Goals of Orthopedic Rehabilitation Services
What Is Orthopedic Physical Therapy?
Many people aren’t aware of it, but there are several types of physical therapy. The technical name depends on the area the therapy treats. For example, musculoskeletal physical therapy targets joint and bone physical therapy issues, which is different from pediatric or neurological physical therapy programs.
Orthopedic physical therapists work with muscles, tendons, bones, ligaments, and joints. However, this orthopedic physical therapy can treat various conditions, ensuring comprehensive care after your injury, surgery, or any other condition you need help with.
Benefits of Physical Therapy
Generally, the list of benefits of physical therapy is extensive. However, a few noteworthy benefits of undergoing preventative and postcondition physical therapy care include the following and more:
- Provide targeted relief for the areas that plague you the most
- Improve your overall balance
- Decreased fall risk due to increased balance and strength
- Offer individualized care for pain relief and general pain reduction
- Break up scar tissue for better healing
- Improve joint flexibility to extend range of motion
- Minimize the loss of function in affected areas
- Strengthen body function and muscles
- Provide preventative care to stop pain and stiffness before they start
All of these benefits of undergoing physical therapy create positive, long-lasting patterns. It could significantly affect your quality of life, particularly with orthopedic-related concerns.
Physical Therapy For Orthopedic Conditions
Many conditions may benefit from physical therapy. For example, the chronic orthopedic conditions that could qualify for physical therapy treatments include the following:
- Various types of arthritis
- Scoliosis
- Osteoporosis
- Herniated discs
- Sciatica
- Chronic hip, knee, neck, and back pain
Short-Term Conditions For Orthopedic Physical Therapy
More short-term reasons to turn to orthopedic physical therapy would be scenarios such as:
- Post-operative care from various orthopedic surgeries
- Injury care for hip, upper shoulder, ankle, back, or knee sprains
- Rehabilitation for sports-related injuries
- Ligament or tendon tears, including ACL, Achilles injuries, and shoulder strains
Competent orthopedic physical therapists can work with you on any of these chronic conditions or short-term injuries to provide strength, reduce pain, and improve your quality of life going forward.
Specialized Orthopedic Rehab Exercise
One of the most significant advantages of orthopedic rehabilitation is the individualized approach it facilitates. You receive personalized care for your needs from this type of physical therapy.
For example, trained and licensed orthopedic physical therapists like Orthopedic Specialists, S.C., will take note of your condition, pain, and cause of the injury. They’ll then craft a personalized plan that typically consists of the following:
- Exercise routines and stretches
- Manual manipulation, like massages
- Hot and cold therapies
- Ultrasounds to check or treat the affected area
Each element helps to manipulate your muscles, bones, and ligaments. It also loosens them to provide pain relief and improve your overall mobility.
Goals of Orthopedic Rehabilitation Services
While decreasing pain is arguably one of the most common goals of orthopedic therapy, increasing mobility is just as vital. Being able to move with ease is something everyone deserves to enjoy in life, including having a full range of motion so that you can move without pain or stiffness.
Orthopedic injury recovery programs also address poor mobility to try and help you regain movement in any affected area without experiencing pain and stiffness. It is an essential goal for your orthopedic physical therapist because it allows you to move freely and engage in the activities you love without discomfort. The therapy also aims to restore your function if you’ve undergone any surgery.
If you’d like to learn more from trusted orthopedic physical therapists in Elmhurst, IL, and the surrounding communities, get in touch with Orthopedic Specialists, S.C.
Key Takeaways
- Physical therapy generally boosts your strength, balance, and overall mobility.
- The orthopedic physical therapist personalizes each treatment to your specific needs.
- Orthopedic physical therapy treats issues with the bones, muscles, cartilage, and joints.
- Therapists like Orthopedic Specialists, S.C. hand-select exercises and treatment options to provide you with compassionate and effective orthopedic recovery and care.
References
- Marris, D. et al. (2021) “The impact of combining pain education strategies with physical therapy interventions for patients with chronic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. Accessed Dec 21, 2023.
- Peluso, Richard et al. (2022) “An Update on Physical Therapy Adjuncts in Orthopedics.” Arthroplasty today. Accessed Dec 21, 2023.
