If you’ve been experiencing joint or muscle pain recently and think that there’s nothing you can do to solve it except popping Ibuprofen, think again. With all the many different kinds of physical therapy specialties available, you’re bound to find something that can help alleviate your pain. But physical therapy isn’t just for getting rid of pain, it can also help improve balance, motor skills, as well as movement.
With all the different specialties offered at physical therapy clinics, let’s dive into what they are and why they’re so popular:
Orthopedic Physical Therapy
Orthopedic physical therapy is one of the most common practices. In fact, in 2012, there were 7,655 physical therapists that were practicing orthopedic physical therapy. But what exactly does it entail?
The goal of orthopedic physical therapy is to improve your orthopedic system, which includes major muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons in your body. Those who have suffered from an injury can greatly benefit from orthopedic physical therapy. If you receive an injury to your body, like a fracture, pulled muscle, or you’re simply recovering from recent surgery, it’s not going to heal as well on its own if you just let it be. Orthopedic physical therapy will help you regain strength quicker and reduce the chance of future injuries occurring.
With all the extra tools and equipment a physical therapy clinic has to offer, you’ll be able to perform exercises and stretches that will heal your body quicker than you’d ever be able to do by yourself at home. Not to mention, you’ll have an expert physical therapist there to help you along the way to coach and guide you through the entire process.
Geriatric Physical Therapy
Geriatric physical therapy is quite popular with 1,422 physical therapists specializing in it as of 2012. This type of specialization focuses on helping the elderly regain some strength and improve their balance. This is a great option for those that want to be more independent in their later years and have more strength in their body to keep them going.
Geriatric physical therapy can help prevent falls in the elderly. This can be life-saving considering in the United States, falling is the leading cause of injury and often death in the older population. The saddest part about that statistic is that falls are easily preventable with balance and strength training with a physical therapist. At Armada Physical Therapy, we offer the Fall Prevention Program specifically for elderly patients looking to improve their balance and reduce the likelihood of falling.
Another option for geriatric physical therapy is a spine treatment program. This is great for all ages but especially benefits the elderly. This type of program helps to alleviate pain and strengthen the core. Working with a physical therapist can be so helpful for seniors because they will evaluate your needs and gently work with your body to help you feel stronger and more independent.
Sports Medicine
Sports medicine is another popular physical therapy specialty and can be extremely beneficial to any athlete.
The thing about sports medicine is it’s not just for pro athletes. You can be in high school, college, or a paid professional to receive benefits from sports medicine. This type of physical therapy can help athletes improve their performance with strength training, help prevent injury, and provide assistance in recovering from past injuries.
Not only can this type of therapy help with injuries, but it can also help you learn the proper techniques needed for your sport. Having the wrong technique can lead to injury and overall poor performance. An experienced physical therapist can help assist you in learning the right technique for a golf swing, a football throw, a tennis swing, and so much more. Whether you’re a professional or amateur athlete, a sports medicine program will help you perform better and become a better player.