Facts About Physical Therapy Cambridge MA

By William Kelly


Physical therapy is treatment that is needed when one has health problems that are making it hard for them to move around or do tasks that they need to be doing. It assists in enhancement of movement and pain relief, plus it ensures the individual restores their physical function and level of fitness. In consideration of physical therapy Cambridge MA residents need to appreciate that the aim is to make it easier to perform daily activities.

It will help with recovery after one has undergone certain types of surgery. Physicians recommend physical therapy when one has long term injuries or such health problems as arthritis. The treatment is used on its own or with other forms of treatment. One of the first things is to undergo examination to be able to know what cause of the problem is.

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 the active exercises, they are performed under power of the person. Some of these exercises include straight leg raising, hip strengthening and walking on treadmills. There are home programs that are very effective and are recommended to be done by the individual. They come in handy for those who want to get back to normal functioning of the body fast. Exercising is is probably the most used form 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 to treat neck pain and lower back pain. This in essence will help in enhancing how easily the spine moves. To utilized lumbar traction technique, the individual is strapped into a mechanical machine. A vest is used in supporting of ribs. Theoretically, traction is used for separating joints and disk spaces that are at the lower neck and also back. This will minimize nerve pressure at the spine.

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.

The other option is massage. This involves use of hands in kneading tissues that are injured and in the process decrease pains and enhance circulation. Muscle tensions also decrease. This will essentially reduce any pain an individual was feeling.




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