There is no such thing as a “miraculous recovery” after a serious injury or surgery. Unless you’re the lead in an action movie or a character from the Marvel universe, your body won’t fully regenerate in mere hours or days. An invasive intervention on your bones, muscles, blood vessels or internal organs will cause your body to behave differently than under normal circumstances. Usually, the after effect is stiffness, pain and/or difficulties in your ability to make normal movements. If you’re unable to work through the pain, you might subconsciously begin to alter your previous normal movements or posture, to avoid being uncomfortable. Unfortunately, this may cause your body not to heal properly and you may develop other problems in the long run.
That is the main reason why it is vital to get the assistance of a professional physiotherapist during your struggles to recovery. A custom physical therapy program will help your body regain it’s initial status, step by step. It won’t be effortless and it may not be painless, but it is the correct way to recover.
Is professional physiotherapy effective in the case of injuries?
In most cases, yes, it is, and this is backed by several scientific studies. One of the measures for successful recovery is to limit the possibility of a recurrent injury, which may well be far more destructive and damaging than the first one. If physical therapy is done right, the risk of relapse is limited. In 2016, Hagglund et al performed an extensive study on soccer injuries, on over 13000 cases, at all levels of the game, from amateur to elite leagues. Results showed that the higher the level of professional sport, the lower the risk of relapse. Amateur players are far more likely to have recurring injuries than elite players. The reason behind these stats is the fact that with higher level sports come higher level sports medicine and physical therapy.
In some cases, no. For more serious injuries, like spinal cord afflictions, no amount of physiotherapy can guarantee recovery. However, professional physiotherapists can make an informed prediction of the evolution of patients who have suffered such injuries and help them reach smaller objectives, like improved, although not perfect, mobility. A study by Lisa Harbey et al has showed that physiotherapist’s predictions of one year mobility for people with spinal cord injuries are usually very accurate. In other words, they will be able to tell you if and when you will be able to walk again. This is a very important step in creating and managing a recovery plan.
Physical therapy and ultrasound treatment
For shoulder injuries, it can be common practice to add ultrasounds treatment to physical therapy, with excellent results. A 2017 study on volleyball players showed undeniable evidence that shoulder range of movement and muscle power were greatly improved after 14-week treatment periods using physiotherapy and ultrasounds.
Physiotherapy and depression or other psychological disorders
A high level of physical activity and fitness, unsurprisingly, reduces the risk of occurrence of mental afflictions such as depression and anxiety. Although we tend to look at physiotherapists as experts for healing the body, let’s not neglect their role in reaching psychological goals, too. Some of the most important such goals are:
- Raising self esteem and confidence
- Motivating patients
- Promoting a more positive body image
Whether you are a professional athlete or a patient recovering from an accident, you can trust Agile Urgent Care’s physical therapy services to help you reach your recovery goals in the shortest time possible.
