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5-Reasons-Physical-Therapy-May-Change-Your-Life
5 Reasons Physical Therapy May Change Your Life

According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, almost 100 million people in the United States suffer from chronic pain. So, if you’ve been suffering from chronic pain for three months or longer, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, this means that people’s reliance on prescription pharmaceuticals is increasing all the time. In 2013, doctors in the United States prescribed about a quarter of a billion opioid prescriptions or roughly one bottle per person. The opioid crisis we’re all too aware of today results from this need for pain-management medicines. When taken in significant doses or for long periods, opioids are both hazardous and addicting. As a result, many people in the United States are looking for safer pain management options which can be physical therapy.

Physical therapy is a non-invasive, natural, and safe method of treating chronic pain. Contact us at Dubuque Physical Therapy in Dubuque, IA today to learn more about how physical therapy can help you find relief without using dangerous painkillers!

What benefits does PT offer?

Our physical therapists are mobility specialists who are ready to help you with your chronic pain symptoms. They will design a treatment plan that is tailored to your unique needs in order to give you the most effective passive and active physical therapy treatments for your ailment.

Physical therapy has numerous advantages; nevertheless, the following are the top five:

1. Relief that targets the source of the pain.

Physical therapy’s success is due in part to the fact that it goes to the root of the problem rather than simply hiding it. Pills may be simpler to swallow for pain relief, but their effectiveness is fleeting. With most drugs, the effects only last 12 to 24 hours, so you’ll have to keep popping tablets if you want to keep feeling better. It essentially hides the discomfort while failing to address the underlying issue.

Fortunately, physical therapy does. Your physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation at your initial appointment to determine where the chronic pain is stemming from and what the best treatments for it will be. Physical therapy gets to the root of the problem to provide long-term relief, whereas medication only works in the short term.

2. It offers safe and non-invasive treatments.

Massage, ultrasound, joint mobilization, electrical nerve stimulation, and diathermy are popular therapies provided by physical therapists. These are all-natural remedies with a low chance of adverse effects, especially when compared to conventional pain-relieving options like surgery and drugs.

3. Better overall physical function.

Physical therapy can be a rather enjoyable experience that might motivate you to take a more active role in your pain treatment! Your therapy sessions can run anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, giving you the opportunity to work closely with your therapist to reach your goals. Physical therapy is the only natural, risk-free, and active approach to pain alleviation that has long-term results.

4. We’ll provide research-backed treatment methods.

Physical therapy’s effectiveness has been demonstrated in a variety of ways, including thorough research and rigorous investigation. These studies have offered solid data in support of physical therapy treatments, demonstrating how they can effectively treat a wide range of pain-related illnesses.

5. A personalized treatment plan.

In addition to your passive treatments, your physical therapist will create an active exercise plan for you that is specifically tailored to your recovery process. Physical activity can help in reducing your pain significantly, in addition to reducing swelling, improving range of motion, promoting healing, and increasing overall strength and endurance.

Are you interested in learning more about physical therapy? Call us!

If you’re tired of living with pain and discomfort, you’re not alone. By looking for a natural way to treat your pain, you’re already well on your way to finding the relief you deserve!

Call Dubuque Physical Therapy in Dubuque, IA today to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled therapists. We can help you get the treatment you need so you can live a pain-free life without the risks of opioids!

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How Physical Therapy Helps People with Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, balance, posture, and coordination. It can also cause non-motor symptoms such as pain, fatigue, mood changes and cognitive impairment. While there is no cure for PD, there are treatments that can help manage the symptoms and improve the quality of life of people living with PD.

Physical therapy is one of these treatments. PT can help restore or maintain physical function, mobility, and independence. Physical therapists are trained professionals who can assess, diagnose, and treat movement problems related to Parkinson’s disease. They can also provide education, advice, and support to people with PD and their caregivers.

Benefits of Physical Therapy for People with PD

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Physical therapy can help people with PD in many ways, such as:

Improving muscle strength and endurance. Both age and PD can weaken and decondition muscles. A physical therapist will prescribe exercises to improve strength. More strength helps with balance and mobility.

Enhancing amplitude of movement PD can cause people to reduce the size and speed of movements. This can affect walking, speech, facial expressions, and gestures. Physical therapy can help increase the amplitude of movement by teaching overexaggerated physical movements, such as high steps and arm swings. This is a way to retrain the muscles and brain to compensate for the reduced movement that Parkinson’s can cause. The LSVT BIG program is a specific set of exercises and activities that has been shown to improve mobility and quality of life.

Reinforcing reciprocal patterns. Reciprocal movements are side-to-side and left-to-right patterns, such as swinging your arms while taking steps as you walk. PD can affect these patterns, which makes walking slow and unstable. Activities can help to reinforce reciprocal patterns by using machines like a recumbent bicycle or elliptical machine. Practicing walking with arm swings is another activity that can help restore reciprocal movements. This can improve coordination, rhythm, and fluidity of movement for people with Parkinson’s. Dance and tai chi are other activities that involve reciprocal patterns.

Improving balance and posture. PD commonly impairs balance. Your brain uses a complex mix of what you see, your inner ear and sensations from your feet and joints to maintain balance. Physical therapy can help to improve balance using exercises which challenge stability, such as standing on one leg or walking on uneven surfaces. PT will also focus on specific components of the balance system by doing things like having a person close their eyes to focus on the sensations from the feet and joints. Physical therapy can also improve posture by correcting any muscle tightness or weakness that may cause stooping or learning sideways.

Increasing flexibility and range of motion. PD also often causes muscle stiffness and rigidity. Physical therapy can help increase flexibility and range of motion with stretching exercises that target specific muscles. Common areas of issue are the hip flexors, hamstrings, and calves. Stretching regularly can also help to reduce pain and spasm.

Providing education and self-management advice. Physical therapy can help people learn more about PD and how it affects their movement. A physical therapist can provide tips on how to maintain safety when exercising, how to cope with fatigue or pain, how to use assistive devices if needed, and how to prevent or manage complications such as falls or freezing.

Sounds Great. Is There Proof?

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Yes. Research backs up all these claims. One meta-study (a study that combines the results of many other studies) that covered 1827 participants found that when compared to no intervention, PT significantly improved:

  • gait speed
  • two- and six-minute walk test scores
  • Freezing of Gait questionnaire
  • Timed Up & Go test
  • Functional Reach Test
  • and the Berg Balance Scale

These results indicate improvements in mobility, endurance, strength, and balance. Gait speed is an especially important measurement. Physical therapists often consider gait speed a “vital sign.” This is because low gait speed has been linked to:

  • declines in functional mobility
  • higher rates of hospitalization
  • higher fall rates
  • cognitive decline
  • increased disability
  • higher risk of death

A larger meta study that included 191 studies with 7998 participants found that PT significantly improved motor symptoms, gait, and quality of life. Specifically:

  • Resistance and treadmill training improved gait.
  • Strategy training improved balance and gait.
  • Dance, Nordic walking, balance and gait training, and martial arts improved motor symptoms, balance, and gait.

Conclusion

Physical therapy is a valuable treatment option for people with PD, as it can help to improve or maintain their physical function, mobility, and independence. Physical therapy can also enhance their quality of life, confidence, and well-being. If you have PD or know someone who does, consult with a physical therapist who specializes in PD to see how they can help you.

References

Are You Curious How Physical Therapy
Are You Curious How Physical Therapy Can Improve Your Overall Wellness?

Everyone aspires to live a healthy, active, and powerful lifestyle – or they should, at least!

However, this type of 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.

Give Dubuque Physical Therapy a call today if you want to start living a healthy lifestyle but aren’t sure where to begin. We’ll tailor a treatment plan to your specific needs so you can achieve your objectives using the most effective approaches.

The importance of leading a healthy lifestyle

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle takes effort, but it becomes a lot simpler once you get into the swing of things.

One of the simplest methods to boost your health is to eat nutritious foods (although we know those sweets are hard to kick.) Physical activity is the most difficult part to develop a habit of, especially if you are hampered by chronic pain.

Some people take anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving medicines to disguise their symptoms, while others give up on the idea of being active completely. Fortunately, with the help of a physical therapist, you may restore your pain-free, healthy lifestyle and resume your favorite hobbies!

Major benefits of seeing a physical therapist for improved health

Whatever your reason for obtaining physical therapy services, the goal remains the same. Perhaps you’re still dealing with the effects of an injury. You might be recovering from surgery and trying to regain your range of motion. Maybe your joints aren’t what they used to be, and you’re seeking a way to feel better. Whatever the case may be, physical therapists are committed to reducing your discomfort and restoring your physical health to its previous state.

A physical therapist is a movement specialist, educated in analyzing mobility issues with walking, running, jumping, bending, stretching, and almost every other form of physical activity. Your physical therapist can pinpoint problem areas and create a customized treatment plan aimed at improving those areas.

Through in-office sessions and at-home exercises, patients strengthen their muscles and joints, improve their balance, build endurance, and experience pain relief, all without the unwanted harmful risks of drugs or surgery.

What should I expect with physical therapy?

Pain alleviation, strengthening, and functional integration are the three main components of physical therapy. Some people fear physical therapy because they assume it may cause pain and be hard to take part in, however, this is usually not the case!

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 a variety of 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 movements that will improve your strength, flexibility, balance, and overall mobility. Many of these exercises will be assisted by him or her, but he or she will also supply some basic ones that you can do at home.

Physical therapy allows you to live the life you want, free of severe limits. This can only happen if you apply what you’ve learned in your therapy to the real world. Your physical therapist is just as committed as you are, and he or she will push you to achieve all of the goals you set out for yourself at the start.

Call our clinic today for help

Every patient is unique, and we recognize that at our clinic. That’s why we tailor each treatment plan to the individual needs of each patient. When you come in for your first visit, you’ll have some diagnostic tests done to help your physical therapist figure out where to start 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.

If you are looking to improve your health, strength, and physical activity, look no further. We can help you get there – even if you’re dealing with pain. To get started on the path toward a healthier and happier lifestyle, call our office today to schedule your consultation!

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