What You Need To Know About Orthopedic Physical Therapy
Physical therapists can specialize in a number of areas, such as neurology, geriatrics, or orthopedics. If you have suffered an injury or have an ailment that affects your mobility, you probably need the services of an orthopedic physical therapist. Orthopedic physical therapy can help you to overcome physical problems that affect the musculoskeletal system.
What Is Orthopedic Physical Therapy?
Orthopedic physical therapy covers a broad spectrum of conditions and injuries from head to foot. This kind of physical therapy treats injuries and conditions that affect the muscles, bones, ligaments, joints, and tendons of the body.
With the help of an orthopedic therapist, you can overcome swelling, pain, stiffness, loss of mobility, and weakness in the affected area of your body.
What Treatments Does an Orthopedic Therapist Use?
Orthopedic physical therapists are physical therapists who have completed additional training in order to become specialists in orthopedic therapy. And although orthopedists specialize in treating the whole body, some orthopedists may also specialize in certain conditions or injuries. For instance, some orthopedists specialize in treating arthritis while others specialize in after-surgery treatment.
During your treatment time with an orthopedic therapist, you may undergo the following treatments:
- Massage therapy
- Joint mobilization
- Heat and cold treatments
- Muscle stimulation
- Exercise techniques
As well as these treatments, orthopedists also utilize tools to assist with the recovery process, such as treadmills and ultrasounds. Your treatment can also continue at home with at-home exercises prescribed by your orthopedist.
When Should You See an Orthopedic Therapist?
Orthopedic physical therapy treats a range of conditions and injuries that affect the human body. You can benefit from seeing an orthopedic therapist in a number of situations.
After injuries
If you suffer an injury to a ligament, tendon, bone, muscle, or joint, an orthopedist can help you recover from that injury. With an orthopedist's help, you can speed up the healing process and regain the use of an injured part of your body.
After surgery
If you need surgery to heal part of your body, such as to replace a joint, orthopedic therapy can help the healing process along.
If you suffer from a debilitating disease
An orthopedic physical therapist can also treat a range of diseases, such as:
- Arthritis
- Degenerative disk disease
- Lyme disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Scoliosis
- Lymphedema
When searching for an orthopedic therapist, look for one that specializes in treating your specific condition.
Orthopedic physical therapists can help you to recover from a range of physical injuries and conditions. If you have suffered an injury, have a chronic condition, or have just undergone surgery, you can benefit from orthopedic therapy.
