Learn About the Many Benefits of Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is an umbrella term that refers to care that aims to alleviate pain and help individuals function at their highest level. Patients come to ProFysio Physical Therapy when they have a condition that is painful or that impairs their ability to move properly. Some of the most common injuries that require physical therapy are joint and muscle pain, back pain, sports injuries, headaches, and neck pain. More than likely, if you are familiar with the practice, these injuries do not surprise you. Below are some conditions that can be helped by physical therapy that might come as a bit of a surprise:
- Vertigo
Vertigo is condition characterized by the sensation of feeling off balance. Patients who suffer from vertigo often experience dizzy spells and they might feel like the world is spinning around them. The condition is caused most often by an inner ear problem. When it comes to vertigo and physical therapy treatments, the top priority will be to restore optimal movement and manage the vertigo. This can include head and neck movements or other exercises that help eliminate symptoms.
- Urinary pain or incontinence
Urinary pain and incontinence, or lack of bladder control, is a common condition that happens to both men and women. Whether or not physical therapy will help depends on the underlying cause of the individual’s condition. If the issue is caused by issues or weaknesses with the pelvic floor muscles, a physical therapist can create pelvic floor exercises that can help.
- Jaw pain
The dentist can do wonders for jaw pain and TMD issues, but so can a physical therapist! Properly working the soft tissues that surround the jaw and the TMJ can help with pain in this area and improve movement. To help the jaw pain, physical therapy techniques might include jaw exercises that strengthen muscles and improve flexibility as well as heat therapy that improves blood flow to the jaw and ice therapy to reduce instances of swelling if that has occurred.
- Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is a neurogenerative disorder that affects dopamine-producing neurons. It generally progresses in five stages with worsening symptoms. These symptoms include tremors, slowed movements, rigid muscles, impaired posture and balance, loss of automatic movements, speech changes, and inability to write properly. Nearly one million Americans suffer with this disorder. Physical therapy can help with the balance issues that are associated with the disorder and also help maintain their ability to move properly.
- Side effects of cancer treatment
The chemotherapy, radiation, and other medications given to cancer patients are powerful in helping them fight the disease, but they can also have a variety of side effects in terms of the patient’s ability to maintain their strength. Cancer treatments can have unpleasant side effects like pain, burning sensations, numbness, and tingling in the body. Luckily, that is where physical therapy comes into play. A physical therapist can apply hands-on techniques like manual therapy and methods like electrical stimulation to provide a source of relief.
The team at ProFysio Physical Therapy can help treat a wide variety of conditions – some of which you might not even expect. Call us at (732) 812-5200 or contact us online to learn what we can do for you.