Physical Therapy Specialist

What’s physical therapy?

Physical therapy provides pain relief and lowers the risk of having chronic pain. During this type of treatment, patients learn to do exercises that stretch their muscles, which improves their range of motion. Patients also work on improving muscle strength. Building muscles that are strong and flexible reduces the risk of having chronic pain or having worsening pain. Physical therapy is an important part of the rehabilitation process after a sports injury, a work-related injury, or an auto accident injury.

What are the benefits of physical therapy?

Physical therapy offers a number of benefits when compared to other types of treatment for pain. Unlike prescription pain medications, physical therapy doesn’t put patients at risk of having an adverse reaction or developing an addiction. It also provides more long-term relief than nonprescription pain relievers. Physical therapy also reduces the risk of recurring pain, since it provides patients with a way to build up muscles in the injured area. Further, it offers an alternative to surgical procedures, which carry certain risks, including infections, nerve damage, and excess bleeding.

How many physical therapy sessions do I need?

The number of sessions needed for pain relief depends on certain factors, such as how serious the patient’s pain is and why they experience the pain. More severe injuries or more serious damage typically requires several physical therapy sessions. Recovery from minor injuries generally require fewer treatments. Each patient’s individual progress also affects the number of sessions they’ll need. Patients who stick with Dr. Mikluscak’s regimen typically recover more quickly and have a lower risk of developing pain again.

What can I expect during physical therapy?

Physical therapy keeps patients busy with learning and doing exercises that push the physical limits of muscles in the affected area. This prevents muscles from becoming weak and inflexible as patients heal. Patients might experience some discomfort during sessions as they work on making their muscles stronger and more flexible. They might also feel sore after each session as their muscles recover.