Joint pain affects people for various reasons, including soft tissue injuries, general wear, fractures, and chronic health conditions. For many people, this pain becomes debilitating and can result in them stopping some of their favorite activities. Luckily, you do not have to live with joint pain.
5 Reasons Physical Therapy Can Help Ease Joint Pain
Learn more about how physical therapy Oregon City can help alleviate this common condition.
1. Increases Your Range of Motion
Joint pain can severely limit your range of motion. This is one of the leading factors in giving up favorite activities, such as sports or creative hobbies. Working with a physical therapist is an effective strategy for improved range of motion in affected joints.
2. Provides Safe, Medically Supervised Exercise
Uncertainty about how to safely exercise with joint pain can keep you from maintaining the recommended levels of physical activity. PT is a great way to learn exercises that won’t damage your joints.
3. Improves Circulation
Therapist-supervised exercise can help increase circulation in the joints. As a result, it may boost recovery time and support natural healing.
4. Helps Build Muscle for Joint Support
Your joints are supported by muscles and other soft tissue. Strengthening them through PT increases their stability while reducing pain.
5. Brings Access to Additional Treatments
While you might think of PT as stretching and muscle-strengthening exercises, it can also extend beyond them. Attending physical therapy Estacada also opens the door to properly fitting support braces, devices to make everyday activities easier and more joint-friendly, and additional therapies such as dry needling. Combined, these can help significantly reduce joint pain.
Best PT Treatments For Joint Pain
The best treatments for joint pain vary depending on what is causing the pain. For example, what works for someone post-surgery might not be a good choice for someone with chronic osteoarthritis. However, there are some categories of exercises that prove effective in many situations. These include:
- Aquatic exercises: Water serves to support the body and reduce stress on joints during exercise. Most therapy pools are maintained at a comfortably warm temperature for optimal comfort.
- Manual therapy: This specialized form of physical therapy involves the therapist applying pressure to mobilize joints, activate muscles, and relieve pain. Your therapist may use his hands or specialized tools.
- Soft tissue mobilization: This approach is a type of manual therapy that applies pressure to soft tissue. It can help break up adhesions, restore range of motion and function to joints, and decrease pain.
What To Look For When Looking for a Physical Therapist
Check for the following things when you are searching for the right physical therapist to address your joint pain:
- Choose a therapist who specializes in treating your condition or type of injury
- Look for someone you are comfortable communicating with
- Check the practice for modern equipment and up-to-date practices
As you can see, Canby physical therapy is an effective strategy for safely reducing joint pain and potentially restoring function to injured joints. Call potential practices to ensure compatibility and schedule an appointment to conquer your joint pain.