Let’s talk about physical therapy. Physical therapy {PT} is a branch of rehabilitative health that uses specifically designed stretches, exercises, and equipment to help patients regain strength, flexibility, and hopefully return to normal, daily life. It’s often used in conjunction with other treatment modalities, anything from chiropractic to massage therapy, sports medicine, acupuncture, pain management, occupational therapy, and more. Keep reading to find out how regular PT can help you from the folks over at The Spine & Sports Health Center.
All About The Spine & Sports Health Center
The Spine & Sports Health Center is a medical practice specializing in the non-surgical treatment of spine and joint pain. Their board-certified medical doctors provide individualized treatment plans for patients of all shapes and sizes, from young children all the way to professional athletes. Through the use of interventional pain management, sports medicine, physical therapy and rehabilitation, chiropractic, and massage therapy, they are able to provide targeted relief for patients experiencing pain due to neck and back conditions or injuries, sciatica, sports injuries, headaches, nerve damage, herniated or bulging discs, and much more.
What Physical Therapy Is
Physical therapy is a very broad term and covers a wide scope of options, making it a rehabilitative approach that a variety of patients can benefit from. Depending on the severity of the injury or condition, patients can have very different treatment plans with differing goals.
So, the most important question is how to get the most out of your physical therapy practice. Anyone who has suffered an injury or has been in pain for an extended period of time knows that the goal is usually a quick recovery.
Pro Physical Therapy Tips
These tips from The Spine & Sports Health Center are designed to help you get the most out of your PT practice so that you can hopefully find yourself back to everyday life, as quickly as possible:
Remember Your History
Physical therapy should always start with a PT evaluation so that the physical therapist can understand your specific pain points, your medical history, your personal preferences and limitations. This helps our physical therapists design a program that is specific to you and your individual needs. If you know your own history and have a clear understanding of wants, needs, and goals, it will make it that much easier for everyone.
Set Goals for Yourself
It is important to set goals for your personal progress when starting a physical therapy program. This sets you up for success and establishes benchmarks that you can work to achieve.
Ask Questions
Open communication is always the best option. Your physical therapy team should become your best friends and know absolutely everything that is going on with you and your body. This helps them adjust your plan accordingly and helps set you up for the best chance at a quick recovery. Don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions, too. Trust us, they are used to it and welcome it.
Be Honest and Open
If you’ve had a hard time and skipped some exercises, or ended up experiencing excess pain when performing a certain exercise, let your PT team know. Voice it and be honest. There is nothing more helpful to a physical therapy team than to hear the true story.
Don’t Skip Appointments
Take your program seriously. That means not skipping appointments, showing up on time, and putting in the work. At The Spine & Sports Health Center, three appointments per week are usually recommended for patients.
Do Your Homework
A successful physical therapy programs means that you put in the work both inside and outside of the office. At The Spine & Sports Health Center, our physical therapists recommend at-home stretches and exercises that can be done in conjunction with the in-office exercises. Make sure to listen closely to instructions, however, because overexertion can slow down recovery.
Consider Keeping a Journal
Journals can be great tools to help keep track of your moods and pain points. They can serve as great reminders of how far you have come. Consider keeping a record of your progress in order to check in with yourself and your body. It’s also an easy way to remember things you would like to tell your physical therapy team about.
Stay Positive
Most importantly, stay positive. A rehabilitative program like physical therapy is not going to be easy, so it’s important to not let yourself get discouraged throughout the healing process. Use friends and family as resources and outlets in your recovery. Rely on support from your physical therapy team and most importantly, trust and believe in yourself.
Interested in learning more about the physical therapy programs at The Spine & Sports Health Center? Call them at 201-533-9200 to learn more about their programs or to make an appointment – no referral needed. They have locations in Hoboken and Jersey City, and weekend and after-work hours are available, too.
Have you tried physical therapy? Let us know in the comments!
