According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 80% of adults will experience a painful condition that limits their ability to function at some point during their life. Fortunately, however, Joy Rodak believes that physical therapy can help reduce pain and increase mobility – and it’s never too late or early to start!
Neck Pain
Neck pain is a common physical condition that can be caused by injury, aging, or repetitive motion, but physical therapy can help with neck pain caused by muscle spasms and strains.
Physical therapists use manual techniques such as massage, stretching, and joint mobilization to reduce muscle tightness in your neck area. They may also recommend exercises you can do at home to improve movement in your upper back muscles that affect the stability of your spine.
Back Pain
Physical therapists are trained to help patients with back pain by strengthening muscles, improving posture, and helping them move better, which will effectively help them get back to their normal daily activities.
Other than that, these therapists use a variety of methods to treat patients with lower back pain including manual therapy techniques like massage and stretching exercises as well as exercise programs designed for each person’s specific needs.
Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can be caused by repetitive use, injury, arthritis, and other conditions. Physical therapy can help you regain strength and mobility in your shoulder while reducing the risk of future injuries.
For reference, shoulder pain is often experienced as a dull ache in the front or side of the shoulder blade (scapula) or upper back near where it meets with a rib cage on each side of the spine. It can also be a pain when reaching overhead or behind the head with an arm straight out from the side body at about 90 degrees angle to the torso.
Headaches
Headaches are a highly common condition that can be treated by physical therapy. The most skilled therapists can help with headaches by improving posture and range of motion, and by improving strength and flexibility. Physical therapists can also recommend exercises that can help prevent serious headaches from occurring in the first place.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful physical condition that affects the vital nerves and muscles in your hand. This condition results from compression of the median nerve as it travels through a narrow canal at the wrist. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the fingers, weakness in gripping objects or lifting heavy things, and pain during activities such as putting on shoes or typing on a keyboard.
Foot and Ankle Pain
Lastly, you may be surprised to learn that physical therapy can help with foot and ankle pain. If you’ve ever experienced discomfort in these areas, it’s likely due to an underlying problem that is causing your body harm. These problems can range from poor posture to an abnormal gait or even an improper shoe fit.Joy Rodak believes that physical therapy can help you learn how to walk properly by evaluating where the pain occurs, as well as making recommendations for how you should adjust your stride or footwear choices, in order for them not only to reduce pain but also prevent future injuries as well.
