Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Physical Therapy
Some think that physical therapy is only for those who are recovering from surgery, had an accident, or maybe even just for athletes. And while physical therapy can certainly help in those situations, it offers benefits any time someone is experiencing pain, weakness or mobility concerns.
UW Health physical therapist Brian Bradley explains that often, pain doesn’t “just happen.” Tissue overload – a possible cause of pain – occurs over time, or repetitive use wears on the joints or tendons. Physical therapy can help through stretching and strengthening exercises with the goal of helping the body to be able to move and function without pain, or with reduced pain. But it does take time and work to reach that point, which can cause some people to think the therapy isn’t
Physical therapists – or PTs – have different backgrounds and skillsets, which can influence how they treat patients. For example, Melissa Fischer, a colleague of Bradley’s, often recommends yoga as part of her therapy plans to help patients improve range of motion, stability and flexibility. If you’ve tried physical therapy once before, both Bradley and Fischer suggest it can be helpful to try physical therapy with a different PT. “A different set of eyes may provide a new perspective and different treatment, which may be the key to your recovery,” says Bradley.
adds it may not even be necessary to see a doctor first. “What many people don’t realize is that if they’ve had a minor orthopedic injury, such as a sprained ankle or pulled muscle, they can come directly to physical therapy through ‘direct access’.”Fischer suggests that it can still be helpful to check in with insurance to determine coverage for physical therapy. “You don’t necessarily need to know all of the ins and outs,” she says, “but it is helpful to know if you have any limits to the number of visits or if certain treatments are covered.
