How Does Physical Therapy Work? How Does It Help?

How Does

If you were recently injured in a car accident or broke a bone, your doctor will likely recommend physical therapy as part of the healing process. And, just as a cast is part of the process to help your bone heal in the right alignment, so is physical therapy an important part of helping your body heal and recover correctly. But did you know you don’t need a doctor’s referral to seek out physical therapy? Yes, your doctor may recommend a certain number or duration of physical therapy sessions, but physical therapy is like chiropractic care in that it’s an available option even if you don’t have a doctor’s referral (unless your HMO/insurance requires a PCP referral). Whether you’re looking for a physical therapist on your doctor’s recommendation or not, our services can provide a wealth of whole-body, non-invasive healing benefits. Here’s what you should know about how physical therapy works:
 

The Basics

Physical therapy, at its core, is focused on mobility and function. That’s a pretty large umbrella of care, which is great because it means that physical therapy sessions can be tailored based on an individual’s specific needs. Generally, physical therapy uses exercises, stretches, and a range of other methods to help build strength, improve range of motion, and help injuries heal in a way that minimizes the risk of future damage as much as possible. Depending on the nature of the injury, your physical therapist may choose to enhance your P.T. sessions with massage therapy, chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, and other related methods to help provide pain relief and better healing. At Senara Health and Healing Center & Spa here in Peoria, we offer chiropractic care, physical therapy, and more in the same building so our team can provide well-rounded care to help you heal.
 

What Physical Therapy Treats

Most commonly, physical therapy sessions work to build up muscle and/or increase range of motion after an injury. But it’s a great non-invasive option to help with a wide range of healing needs. Physical therapy can help with issues that affect your whole body, like neck and back pain, or sessions can be targeted and provide healing assistance for a specific area, like a muscle strain/sprain. The most common issues physical therapy is used to treat include:

  • Non-invasive pain relief
  • Sports injury rehabilitation and prevention
  • Rehabilitation after an injury, surgery, stroke, etc.
  • Help for chronic pain conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and migraines
  • Improving balance and range of motion
  • Recovery and strength building for overuse injuries

Of course, that’s not a comprehensive list by any means. At Senara specifically, we often combine physical therapy with chiropractic services, massage therapy, acupuncture, and other techniques to provide individualized, well-rounded care.

 

Getting Started

If you’ve recently experienced a sports injury or been injured in an accident, odds are good your doctor will suggest working with a physical therapist as part of your recovery process. But you don’t need to wait for a doctor to prescribe the help before scheduling a consultation. Physical therapy can also benefit plenty of other health issues that you may not need to see a physician for. For example, physical therapy and chiropractic treatments can provide pain relief throughout pregnancy then help your body prepare for labor and delivery, and then adjust and heal properly once your baby is born. Physical therapy is also a great option to improve range of motion and build strength, which can help improve your athletic performance and even prevent injury. If you have aches and pains, physical therapy is a great option to provide healing naturally.
 
At Senara Health and Healing Center & Spa, we take a holistic approach to treatments. For us, that means taking the time to discern not only the root cause of your pain but also how your body is functioning as a whole. We often combine physical therapy with acupuncture, massage therapy, and chiropractic techniques to provide pain relief and natural healing. We’ll review your medical history, run tests, and perform an examination. From there, our doctors and therapists will work together to create the right care plan for your specific needs. Want to learn more about our process and get on the road toward natural healing? Schedule a consultation at our Peoria office to see how physical therapy can help!