This year the American Physical Therapy Association has chosen the campaign #ChoosePt to aid in the reduction and use of opioids for pain management.
How can physical therapy help you with your pain management rather than the use of pain medicine?
At the Orthopaedic Center of Vero Beach Physical Therapy Department, our main purpose is to return you back to function. Your goals are established by you and your physical therapist and we teach you to manage your symptoms. Managing your symptoms means keeping pain at a minimum and preventing it from getting worse.
We start with posture and body mechanics. If you perform your exercise with poor posture your body will remain in dysfunction, also if you ignore proper body mechanics you will undo all the work of your exercises.
In physical therapy we frequently correct your posture throughout your treatment so you can feel how the exercise should be performed. We discuss how your symptoms affect your daily living and instruct you on proper body mechanics from simply getting out of bed to playing golf.
Exercises are not all about building muscle bulk but more about muscle control. When it comes to pain, stabilization is key. No matter which joint you have injured, from your wrist to your back, if there is instability there will be pain. Our physical therapists will focus on specific muscle groups and create an exercise plan specifically for you to improve your quality of life.
In addition to your strengthening program, flexibility is important to maintain movement and joint health. Muscles need to be able to move easily through their full range of motion to maintain optimal health.
Physical therapy is for life. The important thing to remember is that your maintenance program is an ongoing process. There isn’t just one thing, it’s a combination of all things to improve your health. Daily exercises and strengthening is important to feel your best and prevent further injury.
