You Don’t Have to Wait Until After Injury or Surgery
Excerpt from article written by Sabrina Felson, MD
You may think physical therapy is necessary only after an injury or surgery, like a fall or knee replacement. However, physical therapy can assist with a wide variety of conditions.
- Osteoporosis (brittle bones). More than half of people over the age of 50 have osteoporosis. Regular physical therapy can improve bone health and decrease bone loss.
- Osteoarthritis. Your physical therapist can prescribe exercises and treatment that can lessen pain and increase your range of motion so you can do more things.
- Vertigo (dizziness). A specially trained “vestibular physical therapist” can help you when you have problems with balance and dizziness such as vertigo, a problem in the inner ear.
- Neurological conditions. These include conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. Physical therapy can help improve your ability to perform daily tasks and stay safe. “By working the musculoskeletal and neurological system together, you can improve function across the board,” says Bales.
- Cancer. For some types of cancer pain, a PT program can lessen pain and keep you strong enough to continue in your home and work life. Physical therapist Cynthia Gormezano Suissa, a survivor of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (a type of cancer), is waiting for a double lung transplant. In her weak state, she says, it’s even more important for her to do her PT exercises so she can continue to take care of herself for as long as possible.
- Incontinence. As people age, it’s more common to leak urine or always feel the urge to go. It can be embarrassing, unpleasant, and inconvenient, leading you to socialize and exercise less, which could worsen both your physical and mental health. Physical therapists with specialized training can teach you to contract, relax, and coordinate the muscles of the pelvic floor so that you can keep this problem to a minimum.
For adults, Rehab Specialists of Idaho has outpatient offices in Rexburg, Ashton and Island Park. Visits our ‘Locations’ page for a list of RSI locations, or call 208-359-9570 to be directed to the best office for you.