The Role of Physical Therapy in Orthopedic Recovery
Physical therapy plays a vital role in healing following an orthopedic injury, general musculoskeletal pain, or surgery. At Warner Orthopedics & Wellness in Baton Rouge, physical therapy is just one of the conservative treatments we use to help you return to your favorite activities. Some of the benefits of PT include regaining strength and flexibility and pain management. PT also helps you learn about proper body mechanics of the musculoskeletal system which includes bones, muscles, ligaments, and joints. PT offers countless methods to enhance natural recovery and improve performance.
Physical Therapy & orthopedic recovery
Your initial meeting with your physical therapist will include an extensive assessment and individualized treatment plan addressing the nature of the injury, range of motion, pain levels, and overall health. A questionnaire may also be given to you before and after treatment, to assess progress and your personal response to treatment. Your therapist will decide the frequency of your treatment based on the assessment. Usually, 1-2 times weekly is standard. We follow a precision and personalized medicine paradigm at Warner PT, each treatment session will be designed specifically for your needs and abilities.
Your physician may order PT for the following reasons:
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation:
Helps reduce surgical complications, minimize scar tissue, and optimize the surgical outcome. Therapists often provide emotional support and help patients maintain a positive attitude during the healing process when daily tasks may take longer to complete. Active rehabilitation has been shown in many studies to enhance outcomes and to ensure the reliability of the surgery.
Pain Management:
Physical therapists use various modalities and techniques to treat pain such as manual therapy, ice or heat therapy, and specific exercises to alleviate pain and discomfort. Home exercises will be given and increased as tolerated. A lot of body pain comes from an imbalance in muscle groups, connective tissue stiffness, nerve compressions, etc. Physical therapy is really quite remarkable in handling these issues.
Restoring Strength and Mobility:
Through targeted exercise and therapeutic interventions, physical therapists aim to restore a normal range of motion, muscle strength, and joint stability necessary to perform activities of daily living with greater ease. This includes active (exercises for strength, and endurance) and passive therapies (heat and cold application and massage and electrical stimulation) depending on your individualized treatment plan. Advanced techniques such as nerve gliding, dry needling, and cupping are also very helpful.
Preventing Further Injuries:
This is an important goal and outcome with any specialized PT plan. Patients are encouraged to participate in their favorite activities again while minimizing further injury. Learning proper body mechanics, stretching, and how to avoid problematic movements are helpful for proper healing and long-term success. In addition, your physical therapist can design an appropriate strength regimen.
Through careful assessment, personalized treatment plans, and ongoing support, physical therapists teach their patients to overcome their physical challenges and live independently. Performance can be enhanced. Daily activities can become easy and fun again.
Whether you’re recovering from surgery, pain, stiffness, or an injury or simply looking for a daily natural painkiller and alternative to NSAIDs, Dr. Meredith Warner has carefully curated a line of supplements to address your concerns.
Tart Cherry Extract
A powerhouse supplement designed to ignite rapid muscle recovery, support healthy blood flow, and reduce inflammation. Tart Cherry Extract is one of Dr. Warner’s favorite supplements for pain relief and a natural alternative to NSAIDs. It is thought to effectively restore the health of overused muscles and joints and is antioxidant-rich to fight free radicals. Use before or after PT sessions.
Delta- 8 THC Cream
Extra-strength THC cream soothes sore muscles, arthritis, and joints packaged in a convenient 2 oz bottle. Get on-the-go relief whenever you need a potent and natural anti-inflammatory. Harness the pain relief of Delta-8 THC and the cooling effects of menthol in this fast-acting blend. Relieves nerve pain, arthritis, bruising, swelling, and more with each application. Use before or after PT sessions.
