Physical Therapy to Address Knee Pain
Millions of people suffering from knee pain see physical therapists at some juncture in their path toward pain relief. Physical therapists are highly educated, licensed professionals who treat assorted injuries, illnesses, and chronic ailments.
The primary goal of physical therapy is to enhance your daily quality of life by reducing your pain and improving your mobility. If you experience pain or problems getting up and down from chairs, trekking the length of a grocery store, traveling up and down stairs, or any other physical movements due to pain, immobility, or weakness, physical therapy in Oviedo can help.
If your physician recommends physical therapy, a therapist will examine your power and range of motion, review your balance and practical abilities (like walking or stair climbing), inquire about your goals, and then create a personalized treatment plan to reduce your knee pain and restore your mobility.
Knee therapy in Oviedo often includes:
- stretches
- strength training
- balance exercises
- gait training
- joint mobilization or stabilization
Heat therapy, ice, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, or therapeutic taping may also be components of your physical therapy program. Your physical therapist can also advise using braces, orthotics, or assistive devices. In addition, a physical therapist works with you to develop a comprehensive home exercise program to help maintain your quality of life beyond therapy sessions.
When knee pain benefits from physical therapy
Depending on the scope of your knee pain and your medical history, physical therapy might be an effective non-surgical treatment. For problems like meniscus tears or mild to moderate osteoarthritis, analyses show that physical therapy improves your quality of life and, in some cases, prevents surgical intervention.
However, if you and your physician determine that surgery is the best alternative, physical therapy can still be an indispensable part of your recovery before and after surgery. Your doctor may send you to physical therapy before surgery for various reasons. The objectives of your presurgical physical therapy often include strength training and a home exercise routine.
Research indicates many patients who partake in these therapy sessions with a physical therapist experience rapid surgical recovery periods and require less intensive therapy afterward. In addition, the stronger and more informed you are before surgery, the more robust, mobile, and confident you will be.
Additionally, after any knee surgery, whether an arthroscopic procedure or a partial or total joint replacement, you might be directed to a physical therapist for a brief duration to help you recover your mobility, enhance your stability and strength, learn to walk without assistive devices, expand your exercise program, and get back to your regular work, household or recreational activities.
Getting started with physical therapy
Nearly all insurance plans cover physical therapy in Oviedo (even Medicare and Medicaid) but always check with your insurance company to be sure. In addition, you will require a prescription or referral from a physician, whether your primary care provider, your physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physician, or your orthopedic surgeon. Once you have a referral, find a clinic close to you and make an appointment. We'd love to help you overcome knee pain and get you back to doing what you love.
