Physical Therapy

What’s involved in physical therapy?

Physical therapy is a treatment option designed to assess and improve your overall mobility, especially during recovery from an injury or surgery.

The licensed physical therapy team works with you directly, using manual therapies and specialized techniques to address painful muscles and joints or damaged ligaments and tendons.

Why do I need physical therapy?

You may benefit from the techniques used in physical therapy to speed up the healing process of an injury or surgery in most areas of your body, including the hands, legs, ankles, or spine.

Common conditions that may be treated with physical therapy include:

• Fractures
• Arthritis
• Sports injuries
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

Physical therapy can also be useful after a spinal cord injury to help you build up strength and gain more physical independence.

You may also learn techniques during physical therapy sessions to prevent future injuries. Your therapist can offer preventive strategies to keep you in good overall health and reduce your risk for muscle strains, bone fractures, and falls.

What can I expect at my first physical therapy appointment?

The skilled physical therapists at Orthopaedic Associates perform a comprehensive review of your medical history, past surgeries, and current symptoms. During your initial appointment, they also analyze information concerning how you move and your physical health.

You can expect a review of your:

• Strength
• Balance
• Flexibility
• Joint mobility
• Neurological function

Your therapist may also assess your cardiac and pulmonary function during activity. If you’re experiencing pain, they can recommend certain exercises and techniques to alleviate your pain and help you perform better during therapy.

What physical therapy techniques are available?

The experienced physical therapy team offers a variety of techniques and technologies to help you achieve your recovery goals. They offer manual techniques that help to improve your mobility. You may also benefit from ice and heat therapies to address inflammation and pain.

Electric stimulation is a common modality of physical therapy that can alleviate pain and improve your functionality. This treatment uses electrodes that attach to the treatment area and deliver low currents of electricity into your soft tissues. While you may feel a slight tingling sensation during treatment, electric stimulation therapy isn’t painful.

Your Orthopaedic Associates provider creates a custom treatment plan to help you reach your goals and improve your mobility. During your initial consultation, they can discuss the types of exercises and treatments you can expect to receive throughout your treatment.

Call the Albany office today to learn more about the physical therapy options available at Orthopaedic Associates or use the convenient online booking feature to schedule an appointment.