When to seek the help of a physical therapist

Are daily activities becoming tiresome and difficult to manage? Has pain or discomfort become a normal feeling on a day-to-day basis? Do simple tasks such as taking off you shoes or walking up the stairs hurt your joints? If so, it might be time to seek help from a physical therapist.

Physical therapists are highly trained and educated healthcare professionals who help patients reduce pain and improve and restore mobility. Physical therapists are able to assist your recovery both before and after surgery as well as teach their patients how to prevent or manage the symptoms of their condition in order to achieve long-term health benefits while also showing you alternate techniques to pain management without the use of medication or surgery. With each visit to the physical therapist, his or her goal is to promote movement, reduce pain, and restore function to the problematic area using a well-organized fitness program designed specifically for you in order to achieve a much more healthy and active lifestyle.

Knowing if and when you should seek a physical therapist is often tricky. If you are experiencing pain that will not go away in a joint or muscle and it persists longer than a few days, it may be in your best interest to seek the help of a physical therapist. If pain is recurring even after you think it has “passed”, a visit will not hurt as it is better to be safe than sorry. If you have been through a traumatic event, such as slipping down the stairs, problems may still persist and it would be in your best interest to seek the help of a physical therapist. If medication no longer temporarily helps the pain, you may be experiencing a more chronic problem, it may also be a good time to seek therapy. Lastly, if you see visible changes such as swelling around the injured joint, a physical therapist is the person to contact.

If these pains continue when doing basic activities a physical therapist can help determine the cause for your pain and guide you on the right path. Pushing past a pain will not benefit you in the long term but rather subside and will eventually surface again with possibly a more severe problem.

We feel like we have the best physical therapists around. Did you know you don't need a referral to get help from a Physical Therapist? Direct access is available for you, please call us and set up an evaluation so we can help get you back on your feet. In Orange County we offer Physical Therapy in Chester, Goshen, Monroe, Port Jervis, and Montgomery. Westchester County has Physical Therapy in Armonk, Bedford, and Hawthorne. In Ulster County we offer Physical Therapy in Wallkill, while in Sullivan County you can get Physical Therapy in Liberty. To round out our 12 locations in New York, those living in Rockland County can go to Physical Therapy in New City as well as Pomona. If you happen to live in PA, we also have Physical Therapy in Milford and Dingmans Ferry of Pike County. Give us a call today!