Leading a healthy, active, and powerful lifestyle should be a goal for all of us. After all, it’s the best way to ensure we stay free of illness and injury! This saves time, worry, and money in the grand scheme of things: less time spent at the doctors and fewer days called out of work.
However, this lifestyle is not always simple to maintain, particularly for people who suffer from chronic pain. Physical therapy, fortunately, is an excellent resource for relieving pain and achieving fitness goals.
If you want to start living a healthy lifestyle but aren’t sure where to begin, call Northern Arizona Physical Therapy Associates to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled professionals. Our therapists will tailor a treatment plan to your specific needs to use the most effective approaches to achieve your objectives.
What is physical therapy, anyway?
Physical therapy comprises three important phases: pain relief, strengthening, and functional integration. Some people are apprehensive toward physical therapy because they believe it will hurt them; however, the opposite is usually true.
Physical therapy aims to relieve pain and build muscles, and your physical therapist will ensure that your treatment plan does not cause you any discomfort. This is accomplished using various therapeutic options, including ice and heat therapy, stretching, bracing, and ultrasound.
Movement is also necessary for an active lifestyle. Your physical therapist will build a treatment plan for you based on particular actions to improve your strength, flexibility, balance, and overall mobility. Many of these exercises will be assisted by them, but he or she will also supply some basic ones that you can do at home.
The result of physical therapy is living the life you want, free from painful limitations. That can only happen when you apply the concepts from your treatments to the outside world. Your physical therapist is as dedicated as you are, and will encourage you to achieve all the goals you outlined in the beginning.
Benefits of physical therapy
Whatever your reason for seeking physical therapy services, the goal remains the same. Perhaps the symptoms of an injury are still bothering you. Maybe you’ve had surgery and need to regain your range of motion. Maybe your joints aren’t as healthy as they once were, and you’re looking for a method to feel better. Physical therapists are dedicated to minimizing your discomfort and returning your physical health to its initial state, whatever the case may be.
A physical therapist is a movement specialist trained to assess mobility impairments related to walking, running, jumping, bending, stretching, and nearly any other sort of physical exercise. Your physical therapist can identify problem areas and provide a tailored treatment plan to address them. Patients strengthen their muscles and joints, improve their balance, gain endurance, and enjoy pain relief with in-office and at-home exercises, all without the negative side effects of medicines or surgery.
Beginning physical therapy is easier than it seems!
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle takes work, but once you get into the groove of it, it becomes much easier. For example, eating nutritious foods is one of the easiest ways to improve your health (although we know those sweets are hard to kick.)
Physical activity is the hardest aspect to get in the habit of doing, especially if you are being held back by chronic pain. Some people try to mask their symptoms with anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving medications, while others unfortunately give up on the idea of being active altogether.
Luckily, with the help of a physical therapist, it is possible to reclaim your pain-free, healthy lifestyle, and get back to doing the activities you love.
What to expect from physical therapy treatments
At our clinic, we know that every patient is different. That’s why we design each treatment plan around the specific needs of each and every patient. When you arrive for your initial appointment, you will undergo certain diagnostic tests that will give your physical therapist a better idea of where to begin with treatments.
Your pain levels, balance, range of motion, and overall function will all be assessed throughout these examinations. In addition, your physical therapist will inquire about your medical history. Following the collection of all of this information, your physical therapist will develop a specific treatment plan to assist you in achieving your health goals.
Give our clinic a call today
If you are looking to improve your health, strength, and physical activity, look no further. To get started on the path toward a healthier and happier lifestyle, call us today to schedule your consultation! We can help you get there – even if you’re dealing with pain.
