Dealing with Pain? You May Need Physical Therapy

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Millions of Americans live with chronic pain. The cause might be arthritis, low back pain or headache. Pain can stem from illness, infection, injury or repetitive movements.

If you’re dealing with pain, the first stop should be your healthcare provider’s office. They may refer you to a physical therapist for care. 

In general, physical therapy is for people who have health conditions that affect their ability to move and function. Some examples include arthritis, joint pain, back pain and fractures. Physical therapy aims to reduce pain, increase mobility and improve quality of life. Your physical therapist will design an individualized rehabilitation program for you, which may include learning exercises and stretches. 

You may benefit from working with a physical therapist if you:

• Are recovering from surgery or injury.
• Have chronic pain, such as low back pain or frequent headaches.
• Have arthritis.
• Have had a stroke that affected how you move.
• Are prone to falls and need to improve your balance.

In many cases, physical therapy can help you avoid needing opioids for pain relief or undergoing surgery. And, for some people, physical therapy is just as effective as surgery. This is true even for serious conditions such as knee osteoarthritis, degenerative disk disease and injuries, such as rotator cuff tears. 

Overlake offers physical therapy as part of our Outpatient Rehabilitation Care as well as through our multispecialty Musculoskeletal Medicine clinic. Our providers will tailor your treatment plan based on your condition and will help you every step of the way on your path to physical recovery.

Talk with your healthcare provider today about any pain you’re experiencing and how physical therapy can help.