WHY TRY THERAPY FIRST

Rehabilitation

WHY TRY THERAPY FIRST

It’s proven to alleviate your pain.

Studies suggest that hands-on physical therapy can lead to improvements in pain, joint function, and range of motion.1

Therapists are highly trained.

Physical therapists are experts at managing patients with movement disorders and have the advanced education and background to provide care to patients with arthritis.4

Chances are it will improve your overall quality of life.

A physical therapist can help you enhance your strength, flexibility, and endurance, which can help improve your quality of life.2,3

It’s proven effective.

Response to treatment will vary, but for some, significant pain relief can be achieved in just a couple of physical therapy visits.5

It saves you time.

Waiting time for appointments is typically short and, in most cases, you can be seen within 48 hours of contacting your therapist.6

It saves you money.

With physical therapy, you won’t have to keep spending money on a maintenance program: the goal is to help you achieve a complete recovery.

It’s a personalized solution, not just a quick fix.

Your physical therapist will address the underlying causes of your pain, such as your strength, endurance, mobility, daily activities, and recreational habits. This individualized approach provides long-term relief and prevents future episodes of pain.7

It’s reversible.

Physical therapy doesn’t have side effects, so you don’t have to worry about permanent damage that could occur from treatment.

It focuses more on your long-term health.

Physical therapists share a common goal of helping you towards complete recovery. It gets you past the pain.

REFERENCES

  1. Hoeksma HL, Dekker J, Ronday HK, et al. Comparison of manual therapy and exercise therapy in osteoarthritis of the hip: a randomized clinical trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;51(5):722-729.
  2. Brosseau L, Wells GA, Tugwell P, et al; Ottawa Panel. Ottawa Panel evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for therapeutic exercises and manual therapy in the management of osteoarthritis. Phys Ther. 2005;85(9):907-971.
  3. Van den Ende CH, Vliet Vlieland TP, Munneke M, Hazes JM. WITHDRAWN: dynamic exercise therapy for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(1):CD000322.
  4. Childs JD, Whitman JM, Sizer PS, Pugia ML, Flynn TW, Delitto A. A description of physical therapists’ knowledge in managing musculoskeletal conditions. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2005;6:32.
  5. Childs JD, Fritz JM, Flynn T, et al. A clinical prediction rule to identify patients with low back pain most likely to benefit from spinal manipulation: a validation study. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(12):920-928.
  6. CPTA Patient Survey, 2007.
  7. Fritz JM, Cleland JA, Speckman M, Brennan GP, Hunter SJ. Physical therapy for acute low back pain: associations with subsequent healthcare costs. Spine. 2008;33(16):1800-1805.

NOTE: Physical therapy may not be for everyone, such as those who have a history of cancer, or severe systemic or neurological conditions; those who have experienced recent/significant unexplained weight loss, have structural deformities, have experienced a recent trauma resulting in fractures, or those who have used steroids.

Disclaimer: The information in this website is intended for informational and educational purposes only and in no way should be taken to be the provision or practice of physical therapy, medical, or professional healthcare advice or services. The information should not be considered complete or exhaustive and should not be used for diagnostic or treatment purposes without first consulting with your physical therapist, occupational therapist, physician or other healthcare provider. The owners of this website accept no responsibility for the misuse of information contained within this website.