Surprising Conditions that Physical Therapy Can Help?

Physical therapy (PT) is typically associated with treating injuries like sprains, fractures, or post-surgical rehab, but it can help with a wide variety of surprising conditions. Physical therapists are trained in their Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum to address all the below issues, and many go through additional training to specialize in one or multiple specific areas. Physical therapy is often more effective or as effective as other more invasive treatment techniques (surgery, injection, medication, etc.). Here are some conditions that many folks are surprised are treatable by physical therapy.

1. Chronic Headaches and Migraines

Many headaches are caused or worsened by muscle tension, poor posture, or neck issues. PT can help by improving posture, releasing tight muscles, and strengthening the neck and shoulder area. At Outshine Physical Therapy, we specialize in helping many folks with this issue.

2. Vertigo and Dizziness (Vestibular Issues)

PT can treat certain types of vertigo, like benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), with simple repositioning maneuvers. Therapists also help retrain the balance system to reduce dizziness. Many folks I see at Outshine Physical Therapy may have this as an underlying issue and is something we address.

3. Pelvic Floor Disorders

PT is highly effective for pelvic pain, incontinence, and postpartum recovery. Specialized therapists work on strengthening or relaxing pelvic muscles to address these issues. At Outshine Physical Therapy, we don’t claim to specialize in pelvic floor disorders as we don’t perform internal exams. However, every person we treat has a pelvic floor! We work with many moms who are getting back to the gym and need performance-based guidance in how to improve their core and pelvic floor function. And if you may need more specialized assistance, we have a great team of referral partners to send you to!

4. Jaw Pain (TMJ Dysfunction)

If you have pain or clicking in your jaw, PT can address tightness in the jaw, neck, and surrounding muscles, and improve joint function. I help many folks with TMJ dysfunction as it tends to go hand in hand with neck pain. Dry needling along with other tools we use are highly effective for treating this issue.

5. Heart and Lung Issues

Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs often include PT to improve endurance, breathing capacity, and overall health after heart attacks or chronic lung conditions like COPD. Acute cardiac/pulmonary rehab is not a focus of Outshine Physical Therapy and Fitness but we work with many folks on improving these issues when they may be ready to return to the gym or higher-level activities.

6. Neurological Disorders

Conditions like Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and even early-stage Alzheimer’s benefit from PT by improving strength, coordination, and mobility, which can delay progression or enhance quality of life. We don’t target folks with specific neurological issues but have helped many folks within my career. If you aren’t a great fit for Outshine then we can help you find a PT who is.

7. Scar Tissue and Post-Surgical Adhesions

Manual therapy techniques can break up scar tissue and improve mobility after surgeries or injuries, reducing stiffness and pain. Manual techniques used at Outshine can help folks who may come to see us with scar tissue or post-surgical adhesions.

8. Arthritis and Joint Degeneration

PT can teach strategies and exercises to reduce pain, improve mobility, and delay or even avoid joint replacement surgeries. Active folks will develop active problems (which includes arthritis and other joint wearing/tearing) over time. This is a topic that we specialize in at Outshine Physical Therapy.

9. Pediatric Care

PT can help children of all ages to overcome a variety of conditions. Many pediatric PT practices specifically focus on children with neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy, torticollis, developmental delays, congenital disorders, and more. We don’t specialize in this at Outshine, but we do see children and teenagers for sports and musculoskeletal issues!

10. Cancer Recovery

PT can help improve mobility, strength, and quality of life during and after cancer treatment, addressing fatigue, lymphedema, and pain. This is not a focus within Outshine Physical Therapy, but we do have great connections to refer you to for this type of care!

PT is far more versatile than people realize. A therapist often tailors their approach to each individual, so even if you have a condition that seems unrelated to movement, PT could be a surprising solution!

Regardless of the condition we are treating or the specialty of PT we practice, our big goals are pretty similar. Physical therapists first off want to help YOU achieve YOUR goals. We also want to improve your quality of life, educate you on how to best take care of your body, improve your pain, and keep you from unnecessary medication/imaging/injections/surgeries.

I hope this was helpful and might allow you to realize there is another treatment option for your condition!

Sincerely,

Dr. Sieara

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