October is Physical Therapy Awareness Month.
The definition for physical therapy (PT) tells us that it is “the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise rather than by drugs or surgery.” (Google search, 2016) Some of the benefits found by physical therapy are explained within the definition. One benefit of physical therapy is that it can be an alternative to surgery. This may not always be the case, but a physician might choose to try physical therapy first instead of just choosing to perform surgery. Sometimes a medical condition that appears to be static is actually improved through the use of physical therapy. Another benefit, and one that is being considered at a greater frequency, is the use of physical therapy to abate the pain response in patients.
Currently, opioid use and abuse is on the rise in the United States. There are a record number of prescriptions being written for these drugs. One problem with opioid use is the potential for abuse. People who are prescribed opioid medications resell them on the street, give them to their friends, or become addicted themselves. When they run out they go back to their doctor explaining the “pain” that they are having so that another prescription is written. There was a survey conducted in 2012 that stated there was enough prescription opioid pain medication prescribed for every adult American to have a bottle of pills. Due to the alarming amount of prescriptions being written, there are more of safeguards being put into place which can reduce the amount of the medication or the rate at which a person can refill their prescription. These initiatives include increasing the education regarding the use and abuse of opioids, and monitoring prescriptions more closely.
Physical therapy is also beneficial to those who have suffered a stroke or sports injury. The body part(s) become weak when injury occurs and physical therapy can help the body return to its original state of function or at least come as close as possible. Strokes occur when blood flow to an area of the brain is blocked. This can either be from clots that have formed somewhere in the body and move to the brain, or by a blood vessel rupturing. This affects the rest of the body because the various areas of the brain suffer from lack of oxygen. Physical therapy can be used to regain motor function that has been affected by the stroke and also by learning new ways to perform the same functions when certain areas of the brain have permanent damage.
Sports injuries use physical therapy due to the body part affected remaining immobile while it heals. The muscles and tendons become tight, and physical therapy can loosen them back up to increase the range of motion so the injured player may return to the game.
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