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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 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 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.

Massage is also an option. It involves using hands to knead injured tissues of the body and thus decrease pain and improve circulation. Muscle tension will also be decreased.




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