Forms Of Physical Therapy Cambridge MA

By William Kelly


Physical therapy is a form of treatment that one may need when health problems make it hard for them to move around and do tasks that they should be doing. It helps to enhance movement and relieve pain in addition to ensuring there is restoration of physical function and fitness level. When considering physical therapy Cambridge MA residents should know the goal is to make daily activities easier.

It helps in recovery after one undergoes certain types of surgery. Doctors recommend this therapy for either injuries or long-term health issues like arthritis. It can be used alone or in conjunction with other modes of treatment. Therapists examine patients to be able to know what the cause of the problems are. This assists them to have a treatment plan. The main aim is to ensure joints move in a better way and also restore strength. The treatment also improves coordination, flexibility and endurance.

There are various forms of physical therapy. One of the most common is exercising. Exercise is a controlled physical stress that is applied to the body to help with improvement of strength, motion range and flexibility. Exercises can be active or passive. With the passive exercises, you are required to only relax while the physical therapist applies stress. An example is the hamstring stress where a person lifts your leg so that hamstring muscles are elongated on the bag of the thighs.

With active exercises, the are done by the individuals concerned. Some examples are walking on treadmills, hip strengthening and straight leg raising. There are many home exercise programs that are recommended. The exercises in this category are performed individually. They come in handy when an individual wants to resume normal activities. Generally, exercising is among the most used forms of physical therapy.

On certain occasions, electric stimulation is used in reducing the pain around muscles and tissues. Two theories are used in explanation of the way electric stimulation works. These are the gate theory and opiate theory. There are other stimulation forms used in contraction of muscles. This is normally used to help injured muscles learn how to get back to normal functioning.

Traction is used in treating low back pain and neck pain to help in minimizing pain and enhancing mobility of the spine. To make use of lumbar traction, one is strapped into a mechanical machine. A vest is used in helping to support ribs. In theory, traction is used in separating joints and disk spaces at the lower back and neck. This decreases spinal nerve pressure.

There can also be the use of laser and light therapy. Light therapies involve use of light at specific wavelength to help in improving healing process of tissues that are injured. It is painless treatment that lasts a maximum of three minutes. The therapist holds the light emitting wand directly over the injured part of the body before pressing a button to activate the light.

There is the option of using massage. This will involve use of the hands to knead tissues that are injured with the aim of improving circulation. This leads to decrease of muscle tension.




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