8 benefits physical therapy can have for all ages

Most people don’t think about seeing a physical therapist until they’re in pain. We do treat people who are feeling pain from injuries, stress, tension, years of wear and tear, or overuse. In addition, there are benefits to physical therapy for people of all ages, before and after pain starts to show up.

Physical therapy is a medical, hands-on approach to relieving pain and restoring function in the body. The main goals of physical therapy are to prevent injuries or pain from recurring and restore pain-free mobility and function. Physical therapists are medical experts in musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. Your PT may want to work closely with your primary care provider to create the most effective personalized treatment plan.

Every patient’s condition is unique, so your physical therapist will evaluate your movement patterns and help you optimize them for long-term strength, wellness and injury prevention. They can also help identify the cause of your pain and work to eliminate it. Physical therapy treatments include a variety of gentle hands-on techniques, exercises and equipment that relieve pain quickly and restore your function to optimum levels. 

This article will describe the many benefits of physical therapy for people of all ages.

Top 8 benefits of physical therapy

Even though pain relief is one of the biggest benefits of physical therapy, you don’t have to wait until you’re recovering from an injury or surgery to see a PT. The treatments and exercises we facilitate can help you improve your range of motion, increase flexibility and strength, and improve your balance and posture. 

No matter how old you are or what kinds of movements you perform throughout the day, physical therapy can help set you up for a long lifetime of health and vitality. Look through the following benefits of physical therapy to find out how it can help you and your loved ones:

1. Personalized care — One of the best things about physical therapy is the personalized care that you’ll get from your physical therapist. The personalized treatment plan they create will be tailored to your specific needs. To get the most out of your physical therapy experience, make sure you find a PT you feel comfortable talking to and who listens to what you have to say.
2. Improving quality of life — One of the most important tasks for a physical therapist is to teach their patients the postures and movements that will keep their body safe. During your yearly physical therapy exam, they’ll remind you of at-home exercises that will keep you energized and help you avoid pain in your day-to-day life. This way, you can learn more about the body and how to care for it outside the clinic.
3. Lower costs — Physical therapy helps you lower health care costs in more than one way. Expensive doctor visits can often be avoided by seeing a physical therapist first, and many clinics now offer telehealth options. You’ll end up with fewer clinic visits and long-term health benefits that keep you out of the doctor’s office and even the hospital.
4.  Improving athletic performance — Another major benefit of physical therapy is that it can improve athletic performance. PT specialists can enhance both training exercises and overall technique for fewer injuries and better performance.
5.  Improving mobility and balance — If you’ve had a stroke or another condition is impairing your mobility and balance, physical therapy can be a helpful tool. Learn exercises for balance, mobility and fall prevention.
6. Building strength — Another major benefit of physical therapy is that it can build strength and fitness even if you’re not dealing with an injury. More bodily strength will help you feel energized and be more active for an all-around healthier lifestyle.
7. Helping chronic pain — Whether you experience chronic joint pain or low back pain, physical therapy is likely to help target the source and reduce inflammation, swelling, stiffness and pain. We work with a lot of people who have osteoarthritis and other chronic conditions.
8. Healing from a major injury — Of course, physical therapy is oftentimes used to help patients heal from an injury. Physical therapy can be an effective treatment method for those who have traumatic injuries, old injuries, overuse injuries and more.

Conditions and injuries we treat with physical therapy

If you do find yourself experiencing pain from an injury or medical condition, there may be a physical therapy treatment that can help. Consider pairing physical therapy with the treatments and procedures you receive from your doctor. 

The following are some conditions that can be relieved with physical therapy techniques:

• Injuries.
• Sprains and strains.
• Arthritis.
• Chronic pain.
• Balance and gait disorders.
• Long-term COVID-19 symptoms.
• Women’s health issues.
• Job-related injuries and workers’ comp.

Find affordable care and enjoy the benefits of physical therapy with an Alliance PTP partner

Physical therapy can be an effective and affordable way to increase health benefits in all areas of your life. You just need the right partner to provide it. 

Alliance Physical Therapy Partners has you covered. We can help you find a PT clinic near you that’s staffed with experienced and caring physical therapists. 

Reach out to us today so we can help you find the physical therapy that works best for your needs.