5 Things You Need to Know About Physical Therapy

EAST BAY - Many people have the misconception about physical therapy that treatments must be painful to be effective. Mention physical therapy and, unfortunately, horror stories abound. Ironically, one of the goals of physical therapy is the reduction of pain. Knowing what to expect during your visit will hopefully dispel any apprehension you may feel. Here are five things to keep in mind to get the most out of your physical therapy program. 1. "No pain, no gain" does not work Most people needing physical therapy have sustained an injury, been involved in an accident, or are suffering from some other disabling disease or condition, all of which cause discomfort of varying degrees. Pain is the body's way of telling the brain that tissue damage is occurring. When we experience pain, our body's protective mechanisms take over, often inhibiting the strength and mobility of the damaged area. Often, people mistakenly believe their suffering has to get worse before it can get better. Unfortunately, this kind of thinking can cause a painful condition to worsen. Physical therapists seek to relieve pain, improve movement, restore function of the body, and prevent or limit disabilities resulting from injury or disease. To accomplish this, they may use gentle manual manipulation, deep tissue massage, electrical stimulation and ultrasound, hot packs or cold compresses and exercises. Actually going to physical therapy should not cause or increase pain, which is why communicating openly and honestly is crucial to your progress; express and describe any pain you may feel, so that the therapist may modify the treatment accordingly. Just remember, while muscle soreness can be a normal response to exercise, a correctly designed exercise or therapy program should not cause increased pain at the site of the injury. 2. Your goals are top priority Do you want your pain to go away? To return to work? To get back to your normal activities? To improve your ability in a sport? You should discuss your goals in detail with your therapist so that appropriate treatment techniques will be developed and implemented. This should happen as early as your initial meeting. At that time, the therapist will also take your health history, observe your posture and movement, and evaluate problem areas. After discussing the results of the examination and your goals, the physical therapist will develop and, with your consent, implement a treatment plan. You should fully understand the purpose of the exercises and other treatment procedures, as well as the anticipated outcomes. Part of your treatment may involve exercising at home as well as at the therapist's office. To achieve your goals and to obtain maximum benefits from your therapy, it is important to follow through with the treatment plan at home. 3. One-on-one treatment is best Most people do not like seeing a different physical therapist each time they come in for an appointment — and for good reason. One of the biggest factors in being successful in a rehabilitation program is related to having your own physical therapist. Optimal results are only achieved by modifying a patient's treatment program, based on continuous feedback from the patient, until specific goals have been attained. If a patient is seen by a different therapist for each appointment, it is very difficult for a consistent progression of treatment to occur. High-quality physical therapy clinics are committed to this type of personalized, one-on-one treatment. 4. An integrated treatment approach is ideal The best health care professionals recognize that a team approach may best address a patient's needs. Physical therapists should collaborate with the patient's medical doctor as well as chiropractors, massage therapists, nutritionists, acupuncturists, personal trainers and other specialists. Talk with your therapist about which complementary treatments will facilitate your healing and maximize your outcomes. 5. Lifelong health and fitness is the ultimate goal Simply stated, a physical therapist's job is to restore and maintain body function after injuries and other disabling conditions, and to promote overall fitness and health. Beyond helping you recover from an injury, physical therapists are skilled in designing exercise programs that fit any goals, including strength training, flexibility and cardiovascular conditioning programs for the home or gym. Other areas of expertise include sports performance enhancement, injury prevention, and posture and body mechanics education. Your physical therapist is there not only to help you get back to your life after an injury, but also to enable you to live the healthiest, fittest lifestyle possible. Greg Specht, PT, OCS, ATC, CSCS, owner and director of Specht Physical Therapy, is acknowledged as one of the top physical therapists in the region through his recognition as a Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy. Specht Physical Therapy is located inside Gold's Gym in Swansea, Mass. Greg can be reached at 508/675-3200 or gregspecht@aol.com. By Greg Specht, PT, OCS, ATC, CSCS This article first appeared in the East Bay Newspapers - Monday, February 7, 2005 Related article: Good Therapy Adds Bounce to Your Rebound - By Jane Brody

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