It’s estimated that there are more than 300 million physical therapy appointments across the country every year. Patients come to these clinics for a variety of reasons. But the underlying goal for everyone is to be able to live comfortably and participate in all the activities they want without pain.

For those who have never been to a physical therapist in Providence, it may be unclear what exactly they can help you with. The simple answer is basically everything to do with strength, flexibility, and mobility. This guide will help you get a better feel for when you should see a Providence physical therapist and what results you can expect.

When to See a Physical Therapist in Providence

There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to move easily to do the things that you want to do!

When you see a physical therapist in Providence, they can help you create some realistic goals to get you closer to the movement you need. Then they will develop an action plan to work towards that goal. You can count on your therapist to walk with you every step of the way. Here are 5 signs that you may need a physical therapist:

1. Prolonged Weakness

A major roadblock to having a healthy, active life is weakness. Weak muscles and joints make it much more difficult to perform daily tasks, like walking or standing for long periods.

Weakness often happens as the body ages but can also be caused due to inactivity or injury.

When you see a PT, they’ll get a full health history to determine what the most likely cause of your weakness is. From there, they’ll create a customized plan to help overcome that source. As you regularly work on your exercise plan, you’ll start to see improvements in your strength, making it much easier to complete all of those daily tasks.

2. Repeat Injuries

Unfortunately, injuries are a part of life and can’t be completely avoided. A healthy body should be able to rebound fairly easily from an injury with the right amount of rest and recovery exercises. It’s when the injuries keep repeating themselves that there starts to be a real problem.

Repeat injuries most often mean there is an underlying issue that isn’t being treated fully. When that root cause is muscle or joint strength, physical therapy can make a huge difference.

Going through physical therapy treatment can help you eliminate some of those vulnerabilities and prevent problems from happening in the future. Your therapist will use a variety of techniques to make sure you have well-rounded care and strength training.

3. Surgery Recovery

Occasionally, an injury will be so severe that it will require surgery to repair the damage. This often happens with knees, shoulders, and hips but can be the case for a variety of issues.

Recovering from surgery doesn’t mean only resting after the procedure. In order to regain full motion and strength, you must also take steps to exercise and build back what was lost. Working with a physical therapist is an important step on the path to recovery.

These professionals know all of the protocols and will work with your other healthcare providers to ensure you get all the rehabilitation care you need.

4. High Fall Risk

An often-forgotten aspect of mobility is balance. Being able to stay balanced when standing, walking, or switching positions is key to being able to participate fully in regular activity. For many, especially in the aging population, this can become an issue.

Physical therapy will help address any chronic conditions that are causing a patient to experience imbalance.

Regular practice and targeted exercises will help strengthen the necessary muscles and help patients gain more confidence. With consistent visits, a therapist will be able to help gradually improve their balance until it’s not an issue anymore.

5. Daily Difficulty

Sometimes there doesn’t seem to be an explanation for why daily activities have become more difficult than they used to be. If that’s the case, it’s a good idea to get in to see a physical therapist. They can help you troubleshoot to determine what’s happening and how it can be fixed.

Physical therapists work with their patients to be able to accomplish all kinds of daily tasks from walking the dog to gardening. They want to help you make sure you can do both the things you need and want to do.

Any time you are experiencing regular difficulties in your day-to-day life, it may be helpful to check in with a clinician who can help figure that out.

New Activity Goals

Going to physical therapy doesn’t have to only happen when you’re injured or rehabilitating. Physical therapists can also help when you’re trying to improve as well.

When you’re working towards a new activity goal, like running more often or trying to gain muscle, it can be helpful to work with a therapist. They can help provide guidance to ensure you stay in a healthy state and are strong to prevent injuries as you make improvements. Having a professional guide you on your training will help you make steady progress that leads to lasting change. Our team is dedicated to providing quality care for every patient using proven methods and a variety of treatment options. If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help you, request an appointment today!