Many people who have been injured or are in pain choose to visit a physical therapist for treatment. Physical therapists are skilled in treating conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system. This includes your bones, joints, cartilage, muscles and connective tissues. All these work together to provide strength, mobility and support for your body.

Doctors often refer patients to physical therapists if they identify a condition that physical therapy can treat. However, you don’t have to wait for a doctor’s orders to visit a physical therapist. Below are a few reasons you may want to contact a physical therapist on your own.

Five reasons you should visit a physical therapist

1. Managing pain — Physical therapists are familiar with exercises and techniques that can help reduce pain. This is helpful for people overcoming an injury or suffering from a challenging condition.

2. Recovering from an injury — Physical therapists can help improve the speed and quality of your injury recovery. This is achieved by strengthening and stretching the muscles and ligaments that support the injured area.

3. Preventing injuries — Visiting a therapist after an injury can help reduce your chances of getting injured again. Even if you’ve never been injured, you may need physical therapy to help prevent injuries. This is especially necessary for athletes and people with high-risk jobs. 

4. Improving balance — Some injuries and conditions affect your muscles, connective tissues and bones, and make it difficult for you to balance. This makes life difficult and puts you at risk for injury from falling. Physical therapy can help restore the strength of these muscles and tissues to improve your balance. Physical therapists can also help people with vestibular conditions overcome the challenges of their condition.

5. Improving athletic performance — Physical therapists are skilled in assessing athletic performance. They can identify areas that need improvement and develop a personalized strategy for you. Plus, he or she can address potential risk factors in your body that may increase your chances for injury.

Contact Continuum Wellness for physical therapy

This list only captures a few of the common reasons someone would visit a physical therapist. If you’re suffering from pain or loss of strength and mobility, contact us today. One of our team members would love to talk to you about your physical therapy treatment options.