If you've suffered a work-related injury, you know that it can be difficult to get back to your old self. Not only do you have to deal with the physical pain of the injury, but you also may have trouble returning to your job and enjoying your usual activities. That's where physical therapy comes in. Physical therapy can help speed up your recovery process and get you back to your old self as soon as possible. In this blog post, we'll discuss five reasons why physical therapy is essential after a work-related injury.
1. Physical Therapy Can Help Reduce Pain
When we suffer an injury, whether it's the result of doing our job, being in an accident, or something else, our bodies go into repair mode. One of the tools our bodies use to repair themselves is inflammation, which causes swelling and redness at the site of an injury. While inflammation is a necessary part of the healing process, it can also cause a lot of pain.
This is because of the way nerves get compressed when an area becomes inflamed. This increased pressure, caused by the increased blood flow to the area, presses down on the nerves and results in pain. However, this pain and inflammation isn't always a bad thing; it can be a helpful warning sign that alerts us to our injury and prevents us from putting weight on it and injuring ourselves further.
In some cases, though, this pain can become chronic, lasting for weeks, months, or even years. When this happens, it can interfere with our daily lives and make it difficult to perform even basic tasks. That's where physical therapy comes in.
Physical therapy can help reduce pain by decreasing inflammation and improving blood flow to the area. In addition, physical therapy can help release endorphins, which are natural painkillers produced by our bodies. By reducing pain, physical therapy can also help improve your mood and give you the energy you need to participate in other activities and start working towards your recovery.
At Performance UNLIMITED, our team of dedicated physical therapists will work with you to create a customized treatment plan to help you decrease pain and return to your normal life. Our team is committed to helping clients of all ages and abilities suffering from a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. So, whether you're dealing with neck pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, or any other issue affecting your bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissues, we're here for you.
2. Physical Therapy Can Help Improve Range Of Motion & Flexibility
Inflammation doesn't just cause pain; it can affect your range of motion and flexibility, too. Inflammation is known to cause the muscles around the joints to tighten, leading to joint stiffness and making it difficult to move the joint through its full range of motion. With the expertise of a
In some cases, an injury can also cause the formation of scar tissue. When you think of scar tissue, you might think of the visible marks left behind after a person is injured. However, scar tissue can also form inside the body, in the soft tissue just under the skin. This type of scar tissue can cause pain and stiffness, making it difficult to move the affected area.
However, with the help of a physical therapy program and special exercises, that scar tissue can be broken up, releasing tension and allowing for better mobilization. These exercises typically use slow, gentle movements to apply pressure to the targeted area and may be an effective treatment to help you regain your quality of life.
3. Physical Therapy Can Help Improve Strength & Endurance
If you've suffered a work-related injury, your main focus is likely on feeling better. Reducing your pain, improving your flexibility, and getting your full range of motion back is a big part of feeling like your old self. But the importance of your strength and endurance should also be on your mind as you consider your rehabilitation.
After an injury, the muscles and tissues surrounding the injured area can often be left weak and vulnerable. Plus, depending on how long you've had to rest, your overall endurance may have diminished, as well. Not only can physical therapy help you work to regain your strength and endurance, but doing so can help protect your body against future injuries, as well.
In addition, you will also likely see an improvement in your overall level of fitness. Strength and endurance training can help to increase bone density, improve joint function, and increase muscle mass. As a result, it is an important part of any post-injury rehabilitation plan.
With the physical therapy services at Performance UNLIMITED, we'll help you not only recover from your injury but also improve your strength and endurance. Our team of experts will design a custom rehabilitation program that meets your specific needs and goals. We'll work with you to help you regain your full range of motion while also improving your strength, endurance, and overall physical fitness.
4. Physical Therapy Can Help Improve Balance & Coordination
Depending on the nature of your work-related injury, you may find that your balance and coordination aren't what they used to be. Balance and coordination are complex functions that involve many different systems in the body, so an injury anywhere can potentially cause problems. However, the most common site of injuries that affect balance and coordination is the brain.
This is because the brain is responsible for processing information about where your body is in space and how it is moving. A traumatic brain injury and a number of neurologic conditions can disrupt this process, leading to problems with balance and coordination.
The good news is that physical therapy can often help to improve balance and coordination. Through a series of exercises, our team can help you relearn how to coordinate your movements. We'll also work with you on improving your balance so that you can move more confidently and with greater control.
If you're struggling with balance and coordination after a work-related injury, we encourage you to get in touch with us so that we can help you regain your balance and coordination and get back to your everyday activities.
5. Physical Therapy Can Help You Return To Work
If you've been out of work due to a work-related injury, you're probably anxious to get back to your job. But before you return, it's important to make sure that your body is ready. Depending on the nature of your injury, there may be some activities that you won't be able to do or that will need to be modified.
For example, if you've suffered a back injury, you may need to be careful about lifting heavy objects. If you've had a knee injury, you may need to avoid kneeling for long periods of time. It's important to understand any limitations or restrictions before returning to work so that you can stay safe and avoid further injury.
At Performance UNLIMITED, our team of experts can help you prepare to return to work. We'll assess your injury and develop a rehabilitation program that will help you regain the strength and endurance you need to do your job safely. We'll also work with you on any necessary modifications or accommodations so that you can return to work confidently and without fear of further injury.
Just like you'd schedule an appointment with your primary care physician to treat any number of health problems, you should schedule an appointment with expert physical therapists when injured or struggling with any number of musculoskeletal conditions.
So what are you waiting for? Get in touch with the physical therapists at Performance UNLIMITED today and get your health and full physical function back.
At Performance UNLIMITED, we want to help you realize your full potential. If you're dealing with an injury or health problem that is affecting your quality of life, our well-trained staff in Pittsburgh, PA can help. Schedule an appointment with us online, or we're happy to answer questions if you give us a call at (724) 826-3583.
