Active people can benefit from the expertise of a physical therapist. Athletes, weekend warriors, performers, and people who work in physically demanding jobs all need strength, mobility, coordination, and endurance. Physical therapists are experts in human movement that help active people remain active. Here are 3 ways physical therapists work with clients to help them remain active in their daily lives.

Injury Treatment

Active people get injured. Physical therapists have the knowledge and skills to help people recover from injuries. In addition to helping people recover, physical therapists will look for and address the root cause of the injury to help keep the injury from coming back. If the injury is severe and requires surgery, a physical therapist will guide in the recovery and make sure the person gets back to their activities. In some cases, a physical therapist can help an injured person avoid surgery with physical therapy treatment.

Injury Prevention

Physical therapists not only help people avoid surgery, but they also help with injury prevention. A thorough assessment of an athlete’s strength, mobility, balance, and coordination helps to identify issues that could lead to injury. A PT will then design a program to improve the problem areas before they lead to injury. A PT can also assess an existing training plan and helps to identify areas that may lead to sprains, strains, or overtraining.

Improve Performance

A physical therapist can create a program to improve strength, flexibility, coordination, agility, or speed. Physical therapists are movement experts. They can break down the requirements of a specific physical task like lifting or throwing, then design a training program that will help people meet those demands.

Physical Therapy is more than just a way to get back on your feet after an injury – it can also help you stay at the top of your game. Whether you are an athlete, a dancer, or someone who wants to stay in shape, physical therapy can help you reach your performance goals. With the right exercises and treatments, physical therapists can help you improve strength, flexibility, and endurance so that you can perform at your best and lower your risk of injury.

Northern Rehab‘s physical therapists are trained to help you avoid injuries. We work one-on-one with each patient to reach their goals and to meet their expectations. While it’s important to keep your doctor informed about starting a new program, a physician’s prescription is not required for physical therapy. If you are interested in beginning physical therapy or would like more information, please contact us at 815.756.8524.