Physical therapy – For Who?

Almost everyone having disorders related to physical therapy can benefit from it. It is not possible for anyone to be completely fit and healthy. Everyone has one or the other limitations. Nobody has the perfect movement, training techniques and body mechanics. Everyone can opt for physical therapy depending on the level of dysfunction of limbs or muscles. A person with no injury but stiffness in joints will take very less time than a person having a joint disorder from a long time. Generally, the patients who are required to opt for physical therapy are those who have been involved in accidents leading to injuries, arthritis patients, athletes suffering from injuries due to over stress and pre as well as post operative patients. The aim of physical therapy is to bring the patient back to normal life as soon as possible. It aims also at relieving the pain, building strength, increasing the range of motion and flexibility. The physical therapy also provides education to the patients which is an essential role of this treatment. By following physical therapy, the patients are able to understand the working of their spine, the uses of correct posture, body mechanics, disorders and the relationship of injury with physical fitness.

Physical therapy for back pain For initial evaluation, you will have to go and visit a physical therapist. The physical therapist will ask you a number of questions in order to get important information regarding your condition. These questions will be of the form stated below:

• How the back pain originated
• What sort of activities relieve the pain and what activities aggravate it
• The duration of the pain and any past similar experiences
• Past medical history which is important

The physical therapist will then conduct a musculoskeletal examination in order to make assessment about the following things:

• Spinal movements and flexibility
• Testing of the strength of legs and trunk
• Postures while sitting and standing

The physical therapist will conduct an examination of repeated movements to see the effect of them on the pain and of the repetitive movements in different directions. Your senses and reflexes will be checked and then a detailed plan will be made to incorporate certain treatments.

While examining the condition of the back pain, the physical therapist will try to identify the various significant movements and positions under which the pain lessens and is under control. Then you will be advised to remain in these postures and the movements in order to decrease the levels of pain. These postures are then connected to the day to day activities. The procedure of physical therapy should be active and directed towards the patient’s self care and returning to a healthy lifestyle as soon as possible.