Physical therapy originated back in the 19th century as a way to promote massage and manual muscle therapy. Today it is still used for massage and manual therapy but it is actually used to help with injury risk. Physical therapy can prevent injuries from happening.

Getting hurt means that you could be missing out on workdays, visiting family, and costing you money in medical bills, and time in bed. Today we are going to go over how physical therapy can prevent injuries and the benefits that come along with it.

What is Physical Therapy

In order to understand how physical therapy can prevent injuries, it’s important to first understand what physical therapy is. Physical therapy is a type of rehabilitation that uses exercise, stretching, and other treatments to improve a person’s movement and function.

It can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including pain, stiffness, and much more. People often get physical therapy treatment for conditions such as:

  • Managing someone’s chronic pain
  • Improving your balance
  • Preventing falls and injuries
  • Recovering from a surgery
  • Improving your mobility

This process is done through a variety of different techniques and exercises that a physical therapist is professionally trained and certified in. These include:

  • Low-impact aerobics
  • Strength training programs
  • Stretching for improved flexibility
  • Pain relief techniques

What are the Benefits of Physical Therapy

There are many benefits that come along with physical therapy. These benefits can help to prevent injuries, but they can also improve your quality of life in general. Some of the most common benefits of physical therapy include:

  • Reduced pain
  • Improved flexibility
  • Increased strength
  • Improved range of motion
  • Improved mobility
  • Improved balance
  • Decreased risk of falls

elderly-woman-falling

What Conditions Can Physical Therapy Treat

Physical therapy can actually treat a wide variety of conditions. While it is often used to help people recover from an injury, it can also be used to prevent injuries from happening in the first place.

Some of the most common conditions that physical therapy can treat include:

  • Arthritis
  • Back pain
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Headaches
  • Joint pain
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Stiff Neck pain
  • Osteoporosis
  • Scoliosis
  • Slipped discs

What is Injury Prevention

Injury prevention is defined as any action taken to reduce the risk of injuries occurring. It is often done through a variety of different methods, including education, training, and more.

Some of the most common injury prevention include:

  1. Prevent knee injuries
  2. Prevent back injuries
  3. Prevent leg or arm injuries
  4. Prevent head and neck injuries
  5. Prevent risks of falling

How Physical Therapy Can Prevent Injuries

Though you may not have realized it until now, physical therapy can play a vital role in preventing injuries before they even happen. By helping you improve your flexibility, strength, range of motion, and more, physical therapy can help reduce your risk of sustaining an injury in the future.

Injury prevention and risk management become more and more important with age as our bodies become harder to heal as we get older. However, injury prevention is important for all ages.

Here are a few ways how physical therapy can prevent injuries.

1. Improves Flexibility and Range of Motion

One of the most common ways that people get injured is by not having a good range of motion. This can lead to strains, sprains, and other serious injuries. Physical therapy can help to improve your flexibility and range of motion, which can help to prevent those injuries from ever happening.

2. Increases Strength & Muscles

Another way that physical therapy can prevent injuries is by increasing your strength. Stronger muscles are less likely to be injured. Physical therapy can help you to build up the strength in your muscles, which can help to prevent injuries.

3. Improves Balance & Reduces Risk of Falls

Balance is another important factor in preventing injuries. Poor balance can lead to falls, which can be very serious. Physical therapy can help to improve your balance, keeping you from falling and injuries to your hips, knees, arms, and more.

4. Reduces Pain

Pain is often a factor in injuries. When you’re in pain, you’re more likely to be less careful and more likely to get injured. Physical therapy can help to reduce pain, making it less likely that you’ll get injured.

woman with pain learning to prevent injuries

5. Education & Pain Management

One of the best ways to prevent injuries is through education. Physical therapists can help to educate you on how to properly take care of your body, how to warm up before activity, and how to cool down afterward. They can also teach you pain management techniques that can help to reduce your risk of getting injured.

5. Better Posture & Wellness

Physical therapy can also help to improve your posture. Poor posture puts unnecessary strain on your muscles and joints, which can lead to pain and injuries. The average person spends 5 to 6 hours on their phone every day. We are constantly looking down at our phones, which can not just hurt our posture but also put a strain on our necks.

Physical therapy can help you to learn how to sit, stand, and move in a way that is good for your body, preventing injuries.

6. Overall Health & Fitness

Last but not least, physical therapy can help to improve your overall health and fitness. When you’re healthy and fit, you’re less likely to get injured. Physical therapy can help you to become healthier and more fit, reducing your risk of injury.

The bottom line is that physical therapy can play a vital role in preventing injuries before they even happen. By helping you improve your flexibility

Why Injury Prevention is Important

Injury prevention is important for people of all ages. As we get older, our bodies become harder to heal. This means that injuries can have a more serious impact on our health. However, injury prevention is important for people of all ages, not just the elderly.

Accidents happen, and when they do, it’s often because someone wasn’t paying attention or was careless. But many times, accidents happen because people simply didn’t know any better. That’s where physical therapy comes in. Physical therapists are experts in human movement and function. They can help you understand how your body moves and what you can do to prevent injuries.

Exercises for Injury Prevention

According to research from medical professionals, there are a few different exercises for injury prevention. Here are a few brief examples:

  • Forward lunge
  • Side lunge
  • Standing quad (thigh) stretch
  • Seat straddle lotus
  • Side seat straddle
  • Seat stretch
  • Knees to chest

By practicing these exercises on a regular basis you can help to prevent serious injuries from happening!

adult using physical therapy to prevent injuries

Physical Therapy & Injury Prevention

Physical therapy can play a vital role in preventing injuries before they even happen. By helping you improve your flexibility, strength, balance, and more, physical therapists can help to keep you healthy and injury-free.

If you’re looking for a way to stay safe while staying active, physical therapy is the answer. Physical therapy can prevent injuries and improve your overall health and wellbeing.

If you’re looking for physical therapy in Calgary, Chinook Rehab Centre is your first local clinic! Contact us today to learn more about how we can help prevent injuries and improve your health!