What is PT?
Physical therapy is a combination of manual therapies, modalities, and exercises that help a person’s body get back to functioning at what is normal for them. Whether it’s after a surgery or an accident, whether it’s after a heart attack or stroke, whether it’s aging or incontinence, physical therapy can treat all of these. A physical therapist typically will evaluate the person by looking at the standpoint of mobility, balance, and strength, and determine the next steps to improve the person’s condition.
What happens in a therapy session?
Strive Physical Therapy (and any good practice) values education and listening just as much as we value getting that patient back to 100%. Starting in an evaluation, we ask what’s going on, what hurts and when, and what your mobility looks like. Appointments after that typically involve hands on techniques like manual mobilization or stretching. And lastly there is always exercise involved. Our therapists guide you in clinic and will give you a list of home exercises to do on your own at home. Other modalities you may try are dry needling, cupping, and ice or heat. It’s never a one size fits all and each appointment may look different!
These exercises make me sore, why do I have to do them?
Our therapists are trying to push you to go beyond what you believe you can do. We want our patients to be independent and not reliant on things like medication or injections. If you’re a little sore along the way, that’s normal! Our therapists are great listeners and are never going to push you into worse pain than what you came in with.
Why is this taking so long?
One thing we find ourselves repeating over and OVER again is that physical therapy is no quick fix! Understand that PT takes patience and perseverance, and it’s not going to work unless you’re adhering to the program your therapist has outlined for you. And if you try to rush your body, it could lead to reinjury.
Do I really have to do home exercises?
Absolutely. If you really want to see results and really want your joints or body to work properly again, doing prescribed exercises daily is a must. Two to three times in the clinic may seem like its helping but home exercises help with conditioning and keeps you feeling better. Oh, your therapist ALWAYS knows when you haven’t been doing them.
