Dubuque Physical Therapy | Sports & Orthopedic PT

Menu
APPOINTMENTS
DIRECTIONS
FREE SCREEN
PAY CREDIT/CHECK
PAY ONLINE VENMO
CAREERS
Menu
Are-You-Searching-For-Ways-To-Improve-Your-Life
Are You Searching For Ways To Improve Your Life? Here Are 6 Benefits Physical Therapy Can Offer!

Do you need to heal from a recent accident or surgery, but you’re having a hard time doing it alone? Have you noticed that your muscles are aching or sore throughout the day? Do you have a chronic illness that causes you to be in near-constant pain? 

Physical therapy can help you enhance your health in any situation. While there are several advantages to physical therapy, the following are the top six ways it can improve your quality of life!

Give Dubuque Physical Therapy a call today to schedule an appointment so we can help you feel your absolute best!

How can physical therapy help me feel better?

1. It can help you improve your balance!

Whether you’re standing, walking, or doing an exercise routine, a physical therapist can provide you with a variety of exercises to help you improve your balance!

Balance normally declines as bones become brittle with age, and there are various health issues that can influence your balance. Improving your balance will help you prevent trips and falls, which can result in catastrophic injuries.

Physical therapy can also help you participate in and enjoy more demanding activities that you may not have been able to do previously.

2. It can offer more opportunities for physical activity.

Physical therapy can benefit you even if you’re in good health and participate in a variety of activities on a daily basis.

Your physical therapist can assist you in improving your performance by advising you on specific forms and techniques. If you want to get back into the things you enjoy, your physical therapist can help you do so. You’ll collaborate on a treatment plan that will help you achieve your objectives, and he or she will help you improve your strength, endurance, and flexibility.

3. You’ll be at less of a risk of injury.

Physical therapy aids in the recovery of injuries, but most people are unaware that it can also aid in the prevention of injuries. Your physical therapist can give you a variety of exercises to undertake at home and before engaging in physical activity to help you avoid injury. If you’re recuperating from surgery, your physical therapist can teach you new techniques to walk and move that will help you stay active while lowering the risk of falls and injury.

4. Your flexibility will improve.

Increasing your muscle and joint flexibility is a goal of many physical therapy treatment programs. Your physical therapist can assist you with a number of stretching treatments as well as heat therapy to loosen up tight muscles and tendons. Massage or breathing techniques may be recommended by your physical therapist to help you relax and become more flexible.

5. Had surgery? Recovery will be smoother and quicker.

If you’ve previously had surgery or experienced an injury, a physical therapy program might be designed to help you get back on your feet. Your physical therapist will design a rehabilitation program that is tailored to your unique needs, with the goal of assisting you in recovering as rapidly as possible. Strength and range of motion exercises, as well as any specialty treatments recommended by your physical therapist, may be included.

6. You might be able to avoid surgery altogether!

You always run the danger of blood clots, infection, and a long recovery time when you have surgery. In many circumstances, physical therapy can resolve a problem without requiring surgery. A physical therapist can help you with sprains, strains, dislocations, tendonitis, bursitis, arthritis, and acute/chronic pain, to name a few ailments.

Physical therapy aids your body’s natural healing process, and while surgery may be necessary in some cases, it’s almost always preferable to avoid an intrusive operation if the condition can be managed with physical therapy.

Give our clinic a call today to schedule an appointment

In order to help you achieve your health and fitness objectives, your physical therapist will work directly with you during your appointments. You’ll be guided through your treatment program and your exercises may change over time according to your progress.

Physical therapy is available to help you find comfort, prevent an injury, or just enhance your physical function. Contact our office now if you’re ready to get started on the road to better health!

Sources:
Running-Out-of-Relief-Options-For-Back-Pain
Running Out of Relief Options For Back Pain? Physical Therapy Can Help!

Back pain and discomfort costs the world’s economy 149 million workdays, according to the World Health Organization. This problem is extremely prevalent; in fact, 60-70 percent of individuals in developed countries suffer from it. The good news? You’re not alone if you’ve been suffering from back pain, and there is assistance available! Physical therapy is a great options for back pain relief.

If you live with chronic back pain, then you are well aware of how restricting it may be in your daily life. That’s why it’s critical to see a physical therapist as soon as the symptoms appear. The longer you wait, the more probable it is that your pain will develop into a more serious problem.

If you have been living with back pain, don’t wait any longer. Call Dubuque Physical Therapy today to schedule a consultation and get started on the best treatment plan for your needs.

Reasons your back is hurting

There are many different reasons you may be experiencing back pain, and ignoring any of them is not a good idea.

Although most people recover within 2-4 weeks, some people who, when left untreated, experience lower back for months leading to long-term pain and dysfunction.

Some of the most common issues associated with back pain include:

  • Improper posture or prolonged positions (i.e., prolonged sitting)
  • Spinal muscle and tissue damage (i.e., lifting strains or trauma from accidents)
  • Limited hip, spine, and pelvis mobility
  • Limited muscle flexibility
  • Spinal/pelvic muscle weaknesses (aka “core” weakness)
  • Poor abdominal, pelvic and back muscle coordination (i.e., compensations due to injury)

The source of acute pain comes from injury or irritation of the muscles, joints (including the intervertebral discs and facet joints), nerves or surrounding ligaments, and other soft tissue. Chronic back pain (i.e., lasting more than three months) is associated with older individuals and women. Chronic pain is also more common with overweight or obese people, sedentary lifestyles, and/or high-stress environments.

How can therapy help decrease my discomfort?

In order to help you regain mobility, function, and comfort, your physical therapist will focus on treating the source of your back pain. Your personalized treatment plan will include the most effective strategies for reducing pain, speeding up the healing process, and restoring function and movement to the damaged areas of your back.

Your first session will include a full evaluation, which will help your physical therapist determine which treatment options are appropriate for your orthopedic, neurologic, or cardiovascular issue.

Active physical therapy treatments for back pain

The goal of active physical therapy is to provide exercises that the patient can accomplish on their own. When your lower back pain has lessened to the point where your physical therapist believes you are ready for active physical therapy, he or she will create a customized exercise program for you.

Stretching, strength training, and stability training can all be used to help you regain flexibility, range of motion, and muscular strength. These exercises will aid in the rehabilitation of the sore area by providing support and guiding you through the process.

Passive physical therapy treatments for back pain

The purpose of passive physical therapy is to help pain become more manageable, and hopefully to alleviate it altogether. Lower back pain can be a debilitating condition, impeding your physical abilities. Because of this, physical therapists work hard to reduce pain as much as possible. Passive physical therapy can include any combination of these special treatments, as deemed fit by your physical therapist:

  • Manual therapy.
  • Dry needling.
  • Ultrasound.
  • Iontophoresis.
  • Hydrotherapy.
  • Electrical stimulation, such as TENS Units.
  • Ice/heat packs.
  • Massage.

Some of these methods are used to reduce pain and swelling, such as heat/ice packs and massage therapy.

Hydrotherapy is an aquatic-based treatment that involves patients performing low-intensity motions in water to relieve muscular tension and allow joints to move freely and painlessly.

While it may sound frightening, electrical stimulation is a harmless treatment that sends small pulses of electricity throughout your nervous system. This aids in pain reduction, as well as reducing muscular spasms and promoting the production of pain-relieving hormones in your body.

These techniques are more commonly used for the treatment of lower back pain than others, although any could be prescribed based on your physical therapist’s discretion.

What should I expect during treatment?

Physical therapy for back pain relief aims to relieve pain, increase function, and decrease the risk of future injury.

When you come in for your consultation, your physical therapist will perform a thorough examination that includes a physical examination as well as questions about your pain levels, lifestyle, and medical history. Following the collection of this information, your physical therapist will develop a personalised treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.

Treatment plans will include both passive and active treatment methods, as mentioned above. It is likely that your physical therapist will also provide you with gentle stretches and exercises to do on your own, in order to maintain the progress you make during your sessions.

You can find true, lasting relief today

If you have been living with back pain, call Dubuque Physical Therapy as soon as possible – we’ll provide you with the relief you need so you can get back to living a healthy, happy lifestyle without pain.

Sources:
5-Ways-Stretching-Can-Provide-Pain-Relief-and-Improve-Flexibility
5 Ways Stretching Can Provide Pain Relief and Improve Flexibility

Do you stretch regularly? If you don’t, know that you’re not the only one slacking off on this vital aspect of exercise!

Stretching is an important element of physical therapy. Targeted stretches are incorporated into practically every physical therapy treatment plan. Stretching is beneficial to everyone, from athletes aiming to improve their technique to seniors seeking relief from chronic aches and pains.

Stretching not only improves flexibility, but it’s also a natural approach to relieve discomfort and make any subsequent physical therapy treatments go more smoothly.

To learn more about incorporating stretching into your life, call Dubuque Physical Therapy today for more information and a consultation!

Do you know about these benefits of stretching?

There are a lot of benefits of stretching that are not always discussed! Five of the best ones are as follows:

1. Stretching is all natural and totally free

It is obvious that if we experience back pain, we should stretch out our backs. However, sometimes stretching your legs during physical therapy can provide unexpected relief to your back, as well. Sometimes we forget how interconnected all of our body parts are!

In fact, your hamstrings, upper thighs, and hips can all play a big part in creating lower back pain relief. Likewise, improving your posture through stretching your torso can provide the kind of support you need to keep your spine from compressing, which helps you avoid shoulder and neck pain. Essentially, stretching different parts of your body can provide relief to places you may not have considered!

2. Stretching helps boost circulation

Stretching can help you relax, but it has other benefits for your heart and musculoskeletal system as well. Stretching is important for practically all aspects of your physical ability.

Tight muscles reduce the amount of oxygen available to the body, depriving it of the nutrients it requires. Stretching aids in the reversal of the process. You’ll benefit from enhanced blood flow to your joints and throughout your body if you stretch frequently.

3. Stretching naturally enhances athletic performance

This is particularly true for athletes. The more you condition your muscles, joints, and ligaments, the better your athletic performance will be.

Bodybuilders, for example, recover from reps considerably faster when they stretch as a cool-down. Golfers can extend their reach by expanding their hips and shoulder range of motion. By stretching and honing their balance, swimmers can even out their strokes. If you’re an athlete, stretching can make a big difference in your results.

4. It’s an effective way to improve range of motion.

Whether it’s turning your head to see behind you while driving, or bending your knee freely while running, range of motion is crucial for both daily life and for fitness pursuits. Range of motion consists of how well your joints can move in all directions. This influences every movement you make! If you have a constricting condition, such as arthritis or an injury, your range of motion can be hindered.

Stretching can help reduce stiffness and increase flexibility, therefore improving your range of motion.

5. Stretching helps prevent injuries

When muscles are tight or tense, the likelihood of injury increases. This occurs because that particular part of your body isn’t working at its peak performance, even though you might be. When you stretch, you’re loosening up your muscles, in addition to increasing range of motion and improving balance, which all factor into injury prevention.

All of these characteristics can save you from making the kinds of mistakes that contribute to injury, such as landing too hard on one foot, twisting your back too far, or falling due to a loss of balance.

Let’s get to stretching; give us a call today!

As you can see, there are numerous reasons why you should consider incorporating stretching into your daily routine. Whether it’s dynamic, static, pre-activity, or post-activity, one of our professional physical therapists can help you figure out the ideal stretches for your lifestyle.

In addition to the ones listed above, stretching has various other health benefits.

Are you ready to reap some of stretching’s benefits? If that’s the case, give Dubuque Physical Therapy a call today!

Sources: