Become a Healthier Version of Yourself with Physical Therapy!

Enhance Your Health and Wellness With Our Physical Therapy Services!

Physical therapy is all about the prevention and treatment of acute and chronic conditions that cause disorders of movement. Physical therapists evaluate the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and associated systems, to improve the physical health of people who have injuries, illnesses, and medical conditions. An individualized physical therapy program is a conservative approach utilizing both active and passive therapies to manage these types of problems. Our innovative care strategies at HealthQuest Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief.

But it doesn’t do just that – it also improves overall health and wellbeing!

The difference between active and passive therapies

Active therapies

Active therapy focuses on targeted exercises and stretches in order to improve function in the affected areas.

The purpose of active treatments is to provide increased strength, flexibility, and range of motion which in turn creates improved motor control and strengthens neuromuscular connections throughout the body. These exercises will help provide support to the injured or painful area and will ultimately lead to improved ability to perform daily functional activities as well as higher-level activity and sports.  In fact, many active physical therapy treatments are designed with the goal of the patient performing them on their own, after their PT sessions are over.

Once your pain or discomfort has subsided enough that your physical therapist believes you are ready, they will continue to progress your active therapies both in the clinic and in your home exercise program.

Passive therapies

Passive treatments work to manage pain and assist in the restoration of mobility and flexibility so you can get back to the activities you love.

By eliminating pain and improving mobility first, the rest of your treatment program will be easier. Passive treatments are often done early in your plan of care so you can focus on regaining your strength and function later on in your treatment plan.

Passive physical therapy can include any combination of these specialty treatments, as deemed fit by your physical therapist. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Manual therapy
  • Iontophoresis
  • Electrical stimulation, such as TENS Units
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Ultrasound
  • Massage
  • Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
  • Dry needling
  • Cupping
  • Ice and heat therapies

5 reasons why you should consider physical therapy

1. Relieving pain

Pain medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, are linked to many negative side effects and health risks. Choosing physical therapy before the use of pain medications is proven to reduce your future use of pain medications thus reducing your risk of experiencing the negative side effects. Manual therapy treatments like soft tissue mobilization, ultrasound, electric stimulation as well as targeted exercises can help relieve pain and restore joint and muscle function. Therapists also teach you methods to make sure your pain doesn’t come back.

2. The potential to avoid surgery

When physical therapy works to heal and reduce pain, the need for surgery is greatly decreased. For some conditions, including meniscal tears, rotator cuff tears, and knee osteoarthritis, treatment by a PT has been found to be as effective as surgery. Considering the potential risks and complications related to surgery, physical therapy is a sensible conservative choice.

3. Preventing falls and improving balance

Falls are the leading cause of death from injury among people 65 and older. A physical therapist will screen your risk for falling using scientifically proven assessments as well as home safety checklists. Based on your screen results, exercises will be given to improve your balance in real-life situations. Home environment modifications to improve your safety in your home will be recommended and if needed, assistive devices can be prescribed to ensure safe walking. Additionally, if you have a problem with your vestibular system,  physical therapists are trained in specific methods to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of vertigo and dizziness.

4. Improving mobility

In the most general sense, mobility is the ease with which you can move around and within your environment. From the hallways of your office to the woodland trails, being able to move safely and confidently is the key to living the life you love. With both passive and active treatments, physical therapy improves all aspects of mobility. Muscles are strengthened and flexibility is greatly improved, allowing you to engage in your activities and lead a healthy lifestyle.

With aging, the chances of developing osteoporosis or arthritis are increased. A physical therapist is a trained expert at helping patients manage age-related health problems and aiding the return to the quality of life they long for. Whether your desire is to spend time with your grandkids or get back to pickleball, physical therapy can not only reduce your age-related pain but will teach you how to improve your strength and mobility with individualized programs designed to be done from the comfort of your home.

The proven successes of physical therapy

Clinical studies support the benefits of physical therapy for health conditions like osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is one of the ten most common illnesses. “Patients were recruited from the osteoporosis outpatient clinics of Klinikum Südstadt hospital and the University hospital of Rostock to engage in physical therapy for osteoporosis.

Over a period of 3 months, 44 patients with osteoporosis completed a twice-weekly 30-minute intensive exercise program. The conclusion was that physical therapy reduced pain and improved function, with the sling exercise patients benefiting most.

The combination of functional improvement and pain mitigation resulted in improved health. This study is just one of the many proving the health benefits of physical therapy.

Find the relief that physical therapy can offer today

With physical therapy, you get an individualized treatment plan to address your challenges, needs, and goals. A physical therapist will help you manage pain, improve chronic conditions, recover from an injury, and prevent future chronic diseases.

A physical therapist will also collaborate with other health professionals to ensure that you get the best of care. Patients are encouraged to be active participants in their treatment plan. All around, physical therapy is designed to improve your health and help you engage in your regular activities. Contact your local HealthQuest and schedule an appointment to get started with a physical therapist today.

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