When most people think about physical therapy, they see resistance bands, exercise balls and treadmills. You may think physical therapy is just for people who are recovering from surgery and rehabbing from a knee or hip replacement.
In reality, physical therapy can be useful for treating a wide variety of body dysfunctions. The treatment plan for headaches and neck pain can be vastly different from plantar fasciitis. Plus, treating pain and injuries with physical therapy helps reduce your dependency on pain medication and lowers your chances for needing surgery.
Because of this, it is important to be aware of some alternative physical therapy treatments to help your body feel better and stronger.
1. Active release therapy
Active release therapy is a treatment for breaking down muscle adhesions that form as a result of an injury or trauma from a surgery. These are more commonly known as scar tissue. Physical therapists can use active release therapy to apply manual pressure, tension and targeted movements to help break up the scar tissue.
2. Graston Technique®
The buildup of scar tissue after trauma can cause pain and limit motion in the body. The idea behind the Graston Technique is to apply pressure with a steel rod that causes controlled microtrauma that triggers an inflammatory response to promote healing. This physical therapy method is helpful for patients with soft tissue injuries such as strains or muscle tears.
Visit SOL for help with your aches and pains
Are you suffering from long-lasting pain or a sudden injury that limits your ability to live a normal daily life? SOL Physical Therapy + Performance Training uses treatment methods like those above and others. Let us help you in your recovery journey.
If you are interested in learning how physical therapy may help you to reduce your level of pain and improve your quality of life, contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
