Importance of early intervention
Why seeking physical therapy early is essential for your recovery!
We have all been there before…attempting to do something and ending up with pain or an injury. From a sprained ankle to “throwing out” your low back…when these silly injuries happen, do you always know what to do? Did you know that getting an assessment from your physical therapist right away can help you recover faster? In fact, we believe so much in the value of early assessment that we offer consultations FOR FREE. Why? Evaluation of these injuries right when they occur will help recovery by identifying the root cause and educating you on how best to recover, and getting you back to activities as quickly and safely as possible. Not convinced? There are a few other reasons to consider early intervention when pain strikes…
Waiting increases risk
If pain were persistent and intense, most would see a doctor right away. But if it’s occasional – there is an urge to put it off. The “I’m sure it will get better on its own” mentality. Sound familiar? You do yourself a disservice in waiting because doing so significantly increases the odds that you will aggravate your injury. If you do, it could make a mountain of what should have been a molehill. Early intervention’s goal is to address tissue fatigue and injury before it becomes a more serious issue. Making a clear game plan on the best way to reduce pain and foster healing, preventing a possibly more costly accident or issue later down the road. This is how acute injuries become chronic ones. Early intervention can prevent that from happening.
Waiting lengthens recovery time
When you wait to see a PT and subsequently aggravate an injury, you effectively add to the number of services required (ie: manual/massage therapy, dry needling, bloodflow restriction, electrical stimulation, etc.) to correct your worsened ailment. Because injuries that have been festering tend to become very irritable and sensitive therapy has to start by calming the injury down before the real rehab can begin. This increases the number of sessions required for recovery and logically increases the length of recovery time. An injury that could have taken 1-2 months of PT (if addressed early) can quickly expand to 6 months of recovery time or more. Take action today to mitigate the risk of lengthened recovery time.
Can Identify Other Underlying Concerns, Early
Not every physical pain, discomfort, or mobility issue is connected to a strain, fracture, or tear. There are times when these are symptoms of an underlying systemic medical condition that need to be addressed by a physician. A PT can identify this and refer you to the appropriate professional before the issue escalates. And if your issue is connected to a medical condition, the PT will be there to assist in a multi-disciplinary plan prescribed by your doctor.
Physical therapy Can Actually Save You Money
You may hesitate to see a PT due to concerns over expense. Even if you’re covered by insurance, you may not want to “use up” your covered visits. Whatever the case may be, you’re not doing your bank account or insurance policy allowance any favors by waiting. The reasons above explain it all. By seeing a PT early, before you aggravate an existing injury, extend recovery time, and/or leave an ailment unchecked, you generally reduce your number of session requirements in the future. Not to mention, deeper issues may also require testing, which ain’t cheap! The average MRI costs $1,500! And don’t forget about the time away from work or fun!
Remember, when you hurt yourself – it’s important to come in for a free assessment. It is not going to hurt anything to double-check with a movement doctor…what do you have to lose, it’s free!