At our physical therapy clinic, our experienced team members work with older adults, men, women, and children who are facing a variety of acute and chronic health problems. But it’s not just pain that we can help with! Every one of our physical therapists has received advanced training in anatomy, human movement, and more. This means there are many ways a physical therapist can improve your function and quality of life, as well as several signs and symptoms in addition to “just” pain that we can alleviate and address at the root cause.
Ever wondered if physical therapy could help you? Keep reading to see our top signs that it may be time to consult with Peak Orthopedic Physical Therapy in Rancho Palos Verdes and Redondo Beach, CA.
5 Signs It’s Time to See a Physical Therapist
1. Dizziness and Vertigo
Dizziness and vertigo (the sensation that the room is spinning around you) can be incredibly disruptive to your daily life. While they may have several underlying causes, these symptoms are often a sign of vestibular disorders like benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
A physical therapist is trained in the diagnosis and treatment of BPPV and can prescribe a range of treatments that will alleviate this uncomfortable sensation, including the Epley’s maneuver and gaze stabilization exercises. In many cases, people with BPPV experience near-complete resolution of their symptoms after just one or two sessions!
2. Imbalance, Incoordination, and Fearfulness of Falling
Loss of balance and coordination can happen as part of the aging process, but may also occur after things like a stroke or nerve damage caused by diabetes or radiculopathy. In some cases, these changes can lead to falls, which not only impose the risk of injury but can also make a person afraid of falling again. Unfortunately, research shows that fearfulness of falling may prevent a person from moving about, which only further contributes to weakness and imbalance. And the weaker a person is, the more at risk they are of recurring falls. Talk about a vicious cycle!
A physical therapist can work with you or your loved one to improve balance, coordination, motor control, and postural awareness. Through exercises and education, we help you regain confidence as well as the physical skills necessary to remain safer and more active in your daily life. In some cases, we may also prescribe adaptive equipment and tools to augment and support your function and safety.
3. Sports Injury, Work Injury, or Other or Traumatic Event
One “sign” that it may be time to consult with a physical therapist is if you ever experience any sort of acute traumatic event, like a fall, auto accident, or injury on the job or during an athletic event. Even if you feel “fine” immediately after the incident, there still could be underlying tissue damage that simply isn’t noticeable right away. This is because stress hormones like adrenaline can mask pain and signs of tissue injury in your body…at least until they return to their pre-accident levels.
By consulting with a physical therapist ASAP after an accident, we can help identify warning signs of tissue damage and initiate early treatment to reduce inflammation and prevent further damage. And unlike medication, physical therapy can also help address underlying factors, like weak or short muscles, that either contributed to the event in the first place or may otherwise delay your healing.
4. Joint Stiffness, Instability, and Weakness
In addition to pain, our physical therapy patients also come to us with concerns about other ailments like joint stiffness or hypomobility, joint instability or hypermobility, weakness, numbness, and tingling. This often coincides with other symptoms such as decreased activity tolerance and fatigue.
Exercises, non-invasive modalities, manual therapy, and the prescription of orthotics and other adaptive devices can all be incredibly helpful and provide a more cost-effective solution than medications.
5. Any New Physical Diagnosis, Change in Function, or Health Concern
A physical therapist is licensed to treat a wide number of health conditions. So if you recently received a new diagnosis, consider finding out if a physical therapist can be a helpful part of your medical team. Conditions we treat at our physical therapy clinic include:
- Musculoskeletal conditions like muscle strains, ligament sprains, tendonitis, bursitis, and impingement syndrome
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
- Amputations
- Neurological conditions including Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis
- Autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis
- Pediatric conditions including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and sensory processing disorders
- Fibromyalgia
- Low back pain
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
- Sciatica
- Debility and weakness following prolonged hospitalization or treatment for an illness such as cancer, the flu, or COVID-19
- Post-operative recovery from things like joint replacement and heart surgery
Need Help Feeling Your Best? Physical Therapy Provides Relief From a Range of Conditions and Symptoms
Whether you have chronic pain or some other health concern, we invite you to call Peak Orthopedic Physical Therapy today to schedule an appointment. A physical therapist can work with you to provide efficient and effective relief from a range of concerns and health issues. It’d be our honor to join you on your journey toward better health and function!
