Types Of Physical Therapy Cambridge MA

By William Kelly


Physical therapy is treatment that is recommended when one experiences health problems that make it hard to move around and perform tasks they need to be doing. It comes in handy in enhancement of motion and relief of pain besides the fact that it ensures restoration of fitness levels and physical functions. In consideration of physical therapy Cambridge MA residents can benefit from some useful information.

It can help with recovery after some surgeries. Doctors will normally recommend it for injuries or long-term health problems like arthritis. It is either used alone or with other forms of treatment. The therapist examines you to know the various symptoms you are experiencing. This helps to come up with a treatment plan. The main goal is to make joints move better and restoration of flexibility and strength. It will also enhance strength, flexibility, coordination and endurance.

There are different forms of physical therapy. Among the commonest is exercise. This is a controlled physical stresses applied to the body so that there is enhancement of strength, flexibility and range of motion. Exercise can either be active or passive. When it comes to passive exercise, the affected person relaxes as the therapist applies the required stress. The hamstring stress exercise is an example and involves lifting the leg to ensure elongation of hamstring muscles around 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 some occasions, electric stimulation can be used to help in reducing pain around injured tissues. There are two main theories about the way the stimulation works. These are the gate theory and opiate theory. Other forms of electric stimulation can also be used for muscle contraction. This is normally used for helping injured muscles to relearn how to properly function.

Traction is used to treat neck pain and low back pain and thus helps to minimize pain and improve spine mobility. In order to use lumber traction, you get strapped into some mechanical machine. There is a vest used for supporting the ribs. Theoretically, traction is used to separate joints and disk spaces found at the lower neck and back. This will decrease pressure in the nerves.

You can also make use of light and laser therapy. Light therapy will involve using light of specific wavelength for improving the healing process in tissues which are injured. The treatment is painless and will last for between one and three minutes. There is a light emitting wand held directly above the injured sections before a button is pressed 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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