Ask questions before you make an appointment and use your own judgment.
Physical therapy treatments should address risk factors, prevention & a home exercise program in addition to pain reduction treatments.
A physical therapy evaluation should include:
- History: The therapists will ask: How did you hurt yourself, when did the pain first appear? What makes the pain worse/better? Have you had this type of pain before? What were you doing just before you felt pain? What does your daily routine involve? etc.)
- Physical exam: You will be asked to do certain movements to determine what movements increase your pain, your posture – how you sit & stand – will be evaluated, your muscles will be palpated (massaged) to look for painful “knots” or spasm (increased tension), the mobility and quality of the motion of your joints will be checked, you may have your reflexes tested, etc.
Physical therapy treatments will vary depending on the condition.A complete treatment will include a few basic elements:
- Pain reduction may include use of heat, ice, massage, relaxation, stretches, joint mobilization and other modalities including ultrasound & electric stimulation.
- *A home program may start out as simple as a list of things to avoid. This should increase gradually as you progress to include exercises, stretches and some type of simple first aid. The goal is for you to gain control over the symptoms as you gradually eliminate the cause of the problem.
* – This is where physical therapy differs from traditional chiropractic care.
- Prevention training including:
- Discussing risk factors for your specific condition.
- Exercises to increase strength and flexibility.
- Training in how to sit, stand, bend, move, return to sports, etc. without re-injuring yourself.
- Suggestions for basic equipment including chairs, lumbar supports, wrist rests, etc. Depending on the person and the condition this may require purchasing a few items. Many “lumbar supports” can be made from simple items in the home such as pillows, towels, blankets (Your jacket can work as a lumbar support if you are out and you run into an unfriendly chair). Click here for a few words from our producer