Are you experiencing pain in your lower back, hips, knees, or other areas of your body? If you’ve recently been in an accident or sustained a sports injury, has your physician recommended physical therapy to you? Since there are different types of physical therapy that are designed to address specific injuries and conditions, your physician may recommend physical therapy in conjunction with other types of treatments.
A large percentage of the adult population within the United States sustain and/or develop a musculoskeletal injury or condition. On an annual basis, this amounts to half of the adults within this country. Furthermore, these injuries tend to be persistent, and often last for more than three months. This can definitely interfere with mobility and cause other issues, such as persistent pain.
At any given time, there are approximately 31 million people within the United States that experience lower-back pain. While some individuals may experience this pain due to poor posture or a sedentary lifestyle, others may experience this due to having been in vehicle or another type of accident. Sports injuries in particular may lead to low back and other types of pain. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, there are more than five million sports-related injuries that occur every year within the United States.
Osteoarthritis is also a common ailment within the United States. In fact, it is the most common form of arthritis, which is also referred to as degenerative joint disease. In addition to the hips, this condition commonly occurs in the knees and hands.
In some instances, a physician may recommend physical therapy prior to considering surgery or another type of invasive procedure. It’s interesting to note that when some individuals initially visit a physical therapist, their overall medical treatment may be considerably less. A recent study with individuals that experienced back pain paid $2,736.23 less than their counterparts that sought traditional treatments prior to receiving physical therapy.
If you’ve recently had one or both of your hips replaced, for example, it’s important to follow your surgeon’s recommendations to ensure that you heal properly. Since there are different types of physical therapy that have been developed to address specific issues, it’s essential to consult with a physician prior to engaging in these activities. It’s quite likely that a physician will provide their patients with referrals to physical therapy when this is indicated. As a result, it’s important to consult with your physician prior to beginning, or resuming, an exercise regimen or sport.