Physical Therapy

After shoulder, knee, or elbow joint surgery, physical therapy helps alleviate pain and restore mobility and function. Kellie K. Middleton, MD, in Lawrenceville, Georgia, is an experienced orthopedic surgeon who provides various advanced injectables, including biological substances, to promote healing and powerful anti-inflammatory pain relief drugs. Call Kellie K. Middleton, MD’s office for additional information about physical therapy, or book an appointment online today.

What is physical therapy?

Physical therapy (physiotherapy or PT) consists of various rehabilitative treatments to restore or improve joint and muscle function and physical abilities. It also helps to reduce musculoskeletal pain.

Physical therapy is one of Dr. Middleton’s most widely used treatments. It forms the basis of most people’s treatment programs, with other therapies added to suit each patient’s requirements.

What can physical therapy treat?

Physical therapy can help with:

Injuries

Sports injuries like strains and sprains, rotator cuff injuries, and other causes of musculoskeletal damage typically benefit significantly from physical therapy. Often, rest, reducing inflammation, and physical therapy are all patients require for mild and moderate injuries.

Postsurgical rehabilitation

If you have a severe injury that requires surgery or need to undergo a joint replacement operation for arthritis, physical therapy is vital afterward. In addition to regaining the use of the area concerned, it prevents your connective tissues and muscles from shortening and weakening, keeps you flexible, and helps encourage tissue growth and repair.

Pain management

Some conditions cause chronic pain that has no cure — arthritis is a common example. Physical therapy forms part of a comprehensive pain management program, keeping you moving and reducing the speed at which your condition deteriorates.

What happens at my physical therapy sessions?

Physical therapy focuses on restoring function through tailored exercises and hands-on treatments. The primary goal of your PT session is to restabilize an injured, impaired, or reconstructed joint, preventing potential disability and reducing pain. The treatments physical therapists use cover three areas:

Active therapeutic exercises

Your therapist helps you perform beneficial exercises correctly and gives you ones to do at home.

Passive treatments

Passive physical therapy treatments include massage, therapeutic ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and cryotherapy.

Rehabilitative or assistive devices

Rehabilitative and assistive devices include crutches, braces, and splints. Some support the injured area during early healing, and others help you manage tasks you struggle with because of your condition.

Depending on your condition, you might only need physical therapy for a short time or benefit from it indefinitely. Your therapist helps you optimize overall body movement, restore muscular and skeletal function, and enhance fitness, so you avoid problems in the future and make a good recovery.

It’s essential to remember that participating in physical therapy requires dedication on your part. Committing to your therapy program is the most important aspect of a successful recovery.

Call Kellie K. Middleton, MD, to learn more about physical therapy’s benefits, or schedule a consultation online today.