For the average person, the hassles associated with an orthopedic injury add up quickly: expensive healthcare bills, time out of work, difficulty completing everyday tasks and discomfort associated with the injury itself. The good news is that common orthopedic injuries like ACL tears, ankle sprains and tennis elbow can often be prevented— as long as a properly trained healthcare practitioner is involved.
Whether you’re a college athlete, an occasional runner or a senior looking to be more active, look no further than your physical therapist. In addition to helping patients who already have injuries, physical therapists are trained to spot and treat injuries before they happen on the field or in your home.
Physical therapists are trained to make recommendations and educate patients following a thorough examination and assessment. Physical therapists use a variety of screenings and tools to evaluate a patient’s balance, posture, aerobic capacity, strength, flexibility and movement patterns. Based on the findings, the PT will share a detailed exercise program that’s tailored to the patient’s specific needs.
However, injury prevention doesn’t end with a trip to physical therapy. Once a physical therapist has explained and demonstrated an exercise program to continue at home, the onus is on the patient to follow the recommendations. In fact, according to a study in Sports Medicine titled “Are We Having Fun Yet? Fostering Adherence to Injury Preventive Exercise Recommendations in Young Athletes,” the key to an effective injury prevention strategy is ensuring that the patient understands, adopts and adheres to the recommended program.
The burden of preventable injuries extends beyond the individual and is wreaking havoc on our nation’s healthcare system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that hospital emergency departments treat more than 2.6 million children for sports and recreation-related injuries each year. And the National Council on Aging reports that every 11 seconds an older American is treated in the emergency department for a fall.
Many of these trips to the hospital—and to other medical providers—can be avoided all together by visiting a physical therapist at the first sign of pain or weakness, before beginning a new exercise program or participating in a new physical activity.
So come visit Freedom Physical Therapy, and talk with one of our amazing therapist, so that you
can begin or continue to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle with little to no pain!
Because you are a star!
