What is Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation?
Following an injury, the road to recovery is comprised of a number of stages, including finding relief for pain and also building up strength in the area that suffered damage. We call the latter process the recovery phase, and it can be crucial in reaching overall wellness.
Physical therapy and rehabilitation aim to strengthen not only the musculoskeletal component of the injury, but also the surrounding body parts. For instance, feeling pain in your lower right back muscles might cause you to favor your left side more, so as to put less pressure on your right side. However, this overprotective stance can cause serious postural problems, and also weaken the healthy muscles on the right side that are now suffering from disuse.
For this reason, physical therapy works to regain bodily strength, movement, and flexibility. Using a variety of exercises and stretches, rehabilitation work can help get you back on the track to total wellness.
Physical Rehabilitation vs. Physical Therapy
Physical rehabilitation occurs after an injury or accident that causes either the loss of motor skills or physical strength. This can occur following an auto accident, a slip and fall, an occupational injury, or any other type of physical trauma.
On the other hand, physical therapy focuses on regaining bodily strength and movement. Therapy is meant to gain back range of motion and balance while using pain-relieving techniques. These techniques help reduce pain and inflammation in the joints and muscles, as well as surrounding soft tissue.
How Does Physical Rehabilitation Work?
Physical rehabilitation teaches new ways of moving or performing tasks that will not exacerbate pain. It also helps re-learn daily movements that could have been forgotten or lost after injury. Additionally, physical rehabilitation helps to regain physical strength after a period of disuse.
How Does Physical Therapy Work?
Physical therapy involves a series of exercises and stretches that focus on the surrounding muscle groups, muscle and bone interaction, ligaments, and other parts of the body that are injured. As opposed to re-training the muscles as physical rehabilitation does, physical therapy strengthens the muscles and allows them to work in conjunction with surrounding tissue easier and more effectively.
How Does Physical Therapy Differ from Chiropractic?
While chiropractic and physical therapy can go hand-in-hand, there are major differences between the two. To begin, chiropractic focuses on correcting issues of the musculoskeletal system, including the spine and other major bones that compose our overall structure. With a thorough knowledge of the central nervous system, chiropractic care focuses on the alignment and correct positioning of muscles and bones.
Using spinal manipulation as well as various other treatments, such as the Graston Technique or Ultrasound Therapy, a chiropractor uses a hands-on approach to correct the issue at the source and help to provide pain relief.
On the other hand, physical therapists work to restore movement and function, such as balance, strength, range of motion, and flexibility. While physical therapists also work to alleviate pain and promote healing, their approach typically includes exercises and stretches as opposed to the manual adjustments provided by chiropractors.
At ChiroCare of Florida, we recommend physical therapy and rehabilitation as a crucial element of your recovery process after suffering an injury. While physical therapy does complement chiropractic care, it is physical therapy that will allow a patient not only to regain strength, but also retrain muscles and bones to function together in a balanced, pain-free way.
Who Can Benefit from Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation?
After suffering an injury, physical therapy and rehabilitation is an integral step in healing the body and getting a patient back to the level of strength, flexibility, and range of motion they were accustomed to previously. While physical therapy is a critical component of healing for those involved in traumatic accidents, those who have also sustained injuries due to postural problems or a loss of muscle strength can benefit from physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Specifically, physical therapy and rehabilitation could benefit those suffering from:
- Pre- and post-operative conditions
- Weakness or loss of motion
- Soft tissue injuries
- Headaches or chronic migraines
- Back and neck pain
- Sprains and strains
- Whiplash
- Muscle pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Joint pain or inflammation
- Osteoporosis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Postural dysfunctions, such as scoliosis
- Sports-related injuries
- Occupational injuries
- Balance disorders
What Are the Risks of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation?
As the goal of physical therapy and rehabilitation is to strengthen the body through pain relieving stretches and exercises, the risks are relatively low. However, as with all exercises, a patient should never push their limits to the point where they worsen existing injuries.
ChiroCare’s Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Locations
At ChiroCare of Florida, our dedicated staff has over 50 years of combined experience. We customize a patient’s treatment plan, bearing in mind their present injuries, lifestyle, and pain levels. Through a tailored approach, we can effectively help reduce pain, regain strength, and promote healing.
For more information on physical therapy and rehabilitation services, contact ChiroCare of Florida today.
Physical therapy is available at these South Florida locations:
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