When many people think about Parker physical therapy, it’s associated with recovering from an injury. However, physical therapy is crucial for preventing injuries too. This applies to everyday injuries doing normal activities, as well as sports. With millions of sports injuries and issues from the workplace, it is important to speak with a physical therapist to learn best practices. 

Preventing Injuries with Physical Therapy

Did you know you can avoid painful and costly injuries simply by seeing a physical therapist? Also, did you know that you do not have to be an athlete to learn ways to avoid injuries? From workplace mishaps to exercising, seeing a local physical therapist can help you avoid an injury in any environment. This does not mean you need a weekly visit as you may with an injury, but a yearly check-in similar to one with your primary care physician. 

At this appointment, you can discuss with a physical therapist your day-to-day. Tell them about your favorite activities, how you function at work, exercises you do, sports you participate in, and anything else you do during the day. From there, the physical therapist can learn your existing form and routine. They will be able to spot any issues that can be detrimental longterm and develop a plan for you to correct those behaviors. In addition, your physical therapist can introduce you to exercises and stretches to reduce minor aches and pains that you may be treating with medications or topical creams. Your physical therapist can help you work through any old injuries and give you techniques and exercises to do to avoid re-injuring yourself again. 

Training for an athletic event in the future, such a marathon? Include a physical therapist into the conversation. They will provide valuable tips for training to ensure your strength and success. When you begin to think proactively rather than reactively with your health, you can avoid costly visits to the doctor. Plus, you will physically feel better under the guidance of a physical therapist—helping you be more productive and happier. 

General Common Reasons Physical Therapy is Used

Physical therapy is incredibly beneficial in a multitude of ways, not just for injury recovery or avoidance. Therapy can help in the following ways: 

• Balance issues: Senior citizens or people who struggle with balance issues can benefit from physical therapy. Through a specialized plan of exercises, a physical therapist can identify some of the critical issues and develop strategies that prevent dangerous falls. 
• Arthritis: Those suffering from arthritis can see a physical therapist to learn exercises and techniques to reduce pain. These techniques can also help a person become stronger and have a better range of motion in areas they struggle with. 
• Avoid surgery: If you have an ailment that your doctor thinks may be best to have operated on, try physical therapy first. In many cases, physical therapy can help a person regain strength and eliminate the need for surgery. Or, if you must have a surgery, see a physical therapist in the weeks leading up to the operation. This can help speed up recovery time and reduce pain. 
• Headaches and migraines: Physical therapists can help individuals suffering from debilitating headaches and migraines. How? Often times, these issues are caused by tenseness and bad posture. A physical therapist can correct these issues. 
• Strains: When a person strains a part of the body, it can take a long time to recover if you do not take care of it properly. In addition, using the same repetitive movements can re-injure and area—something your go-to physical therapist can help you learn how to avoid. 
• Women’s issues: From incontinence to pelvic floor issues, women can see a local physical therapist for relief. Various muscles can be worked and strengthened to reduce or eliminate pain and take the stress out of certain situations. New mothers can also benefit from visiting a physical therapist to regain strength. 

Top Injuries to Seek Therapy

In the event you sustain an injury, whether it be carpal tunnel syndrome from a desk job to tearing your ACL, a physical therapist will do wonders for your treatment. Upon sustaining an injury, one of the first things you should do is practice the “RICE” method, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Immediately stop putting pressure and/or weight on the injured area and apply ice or something frozen to help reduce swelling. Using compression around the affected area will help to also reduce swelling as well as elevating it. In addition to “RICE,” call your primary care physician or contact 911 if extremely serious and painful. After you have received care, contact a local physical therapist to aid in your recovery. 

Some of the top injuries include: 

• Achilles tendonitis: When the Achilles tendon, which connects your heel bone to your calf muscles, is overused or injured, it can be incredibly painful. It is common in sports or routine daily activities that incorporate jumping or running. In addition to care under a professional, a physical therapist will help you regain strength and avoid repeating motions that could cause it to become damaged again. 
• General sprains and strains: Sprains and strains can occur almost anywhere. Ensuring you take proper care to heal and seeing a physical therapist will help you avoid re-spraining in the future. 
• Shoulder injuries: Sports or activities where a person is repetitively rotating the shoulder joints can lead to injuries. They can happen with repeated use that causes extra strain, leaving them to become irritated, inflamed, or other issues. 
• Plantar fasciitis: The band of tissue that connects the heel to the ball of the feet can become painful when it tears or become inflamed. It can become irritated when you introduce new exercises or routines putting added strain on your feet, gain weight or have a job that requires you to be on your feet for hours at a time. Physical therapists can help you develop strategies to reduce inflammation and make this condition manageable. 

If you have never been to a physical therapist before, now is the perfect time to start. Peak Physical Therapy will help you when it comes to preparing for your Denver physical therapy appointment. With several locations, you can visit the Peak Physical Therapy location near you. We will help you identify any potential issues and help you correct them to avoid injury!