Neck or Back pain
Physical therapists are very skilled at evaluating and treating spine ailments. It’s hard to make it through regular activity if you have a neck or back issue.
Treatment options for the spine include:
- Dry needling
- Electrical stimulation
- Heat /cold
- Traction
- Hands on work (tissue loosening and spinal segment movement)
- Exercises like stretching, strengthening, and postural stabilization
Headache or jaw pain
There has been a huge increase in patients with headaches, jaw pain, and TMD disorders this year at Fast Track.
Examples of these behaviors include:
- Grinding their teeth more
- Moving their jaws in different ways
- Getting headaches
Many dentists report increased numbers of patients having these symptoms. Choosing to see a physical therapist can help with many of these ailments by teaching patients effective coping strategies and hands-on manual therapy.
Tendinitis of the ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, and wrist
Returning to the gym for the first time in months? It’s common to experience aches and pains that won’t go away.
These symptoms typically indicate tendinitis or overuse syndrome.
Physical therapy works to get your pain levels down. It also helps to get your range of motion back, before beginning strength work. This is the right formula to get you back to the gym, your yoga studio, and doing Pilates, or CrossFit safely.
Deconditioned people of all ages
The lack of physical activity can result in the following consequences.
- Joint and muscle stiffness
- Weakness and fatigue
- Decreased flexibility
- Weight gain
- Decreased cardiovascular condition
Physical therapy can help you get started on the right exercise program, in the right way. All it takes is the motivation to begin the process.
Balance or fall issues
Many physical therapists believe in the mantra “balance is strength, strength is balance.”
Increased strength and balance can decrease the risk of a fall. The stronger you are and feel– the stronger your body becomes. Many injuries and illnesses result in decrease of balance over time, and inactivity only adds to it.
Seeing a physical therapist helps decrease the risk of falling and gives patients confidence when performing everyday tasks. Finding balance requires finding and building strength, too.
Decrease use of medicine like narcotics, anti-inflammatories, and muscle relaxers
For people recovering from serious illnesses and injuries, these medications are necessary to provide pain relief and allow the body to heal. Physical therapy can help in these areas, too, and even help reduce the use of medications.
A physical therapist uses many tools that use the body’s natural healing processes. These include:
- Dry needling
- Heat/cold
- Electrical stimulation
- Ultrasound
- Manual, hands on work to move spinal segments, tissues, and muscles
Of course, exercise, accessing your body’s natural endorphins as you start, and showing patients how to move their body in the right ways, also matter.
It’s important to note, though, that you should never eliminate the use of medications like this without consulting your doctor. Doing so too quickly may be unsafe, which could lead to future complications and additional health issues.
The end of the year is quickly approaching, and your deductible is likely or could already be met…
If you’ve sought medical care throughout the year, it’s likely that by now, any additional procedures and visits won’t cost you anything out of pocket. Why not let insurance help pay to get you back on track?
When you see a physical therapist, the goal is to get out of pain, get stronger, and get you back to exercising regularly. This is much less stressful when you know that your sessions won’t result in large, unexpected bills – especially for consultations and functional assessments.
You pay for medical insurance – so why not utilize it and reap the benefits?
