Physical therapy is one of those medical services that's often misunderstood for a lot of reasons. Especially for those who have never needed physical therapy, it's easy to believe that many of the misconceptions out there are true. Here's a look at some of the things that you need to know about physical therapy and the truth behind some of the most common misconceptions.
Physical Therapy Does Work, It Just Takes Time
In many cases, people give up on physical therapy because they believe that it isn't doing anything to help them. The fact is that physical therapy isn't a quick-fix type of treatment. It takes commitment and time for physical therapy to make a difference for any condition.
In many cases, physical therapy is used to help preserve or extend the range of motion, tone muscles, or improve strength and motor skills. These are not things that can be achieved overnight. Instead, you'll need to be prepared to stick with your physical therapy treatment for the duration if you want to see the results.
Physical Therapy Isn't Just For Accidents
Some people have mistakenly associated physical therapy with accident recovery as its exclusive purpose. In fact, physical therapy is used quite frequently to help with accident recovery, but that's not the only thing that this type of treatment is used for.
Physical therapy can be used to assist in recovery from accidents and injuries, but it can also be used to help manage muscle and skeletal problems, arthritis pain, joint inflammation issues, and general muscle tone or weakness trouble.
Physical Therapy Doesn't Always Require A Referral
Some patients hesitate to pursue physical therapy even when it can help because they don't want to have to obtain a referral from their primary care doctor. Whether the primary care doctor isn't cooperative about seeking physical therapy or you are just uncomfortable asking, this can be a roadblock in the way.
However, most states have made physical therapy accessible and covered by insurance even without a primary care doctor's referral. Many times, you can reach out to a local physical therapist directly and schedule your own appointment, which is often much easier for those who struggle with their primary care physician for any reason.
These are some of the things that you should know when it comes to physical therapy treatment. If you believe that you could benefit from physical therapy for any reason, reach out to a clinic near you, such as Dr. Carr Integrative Physical Therapy.
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