Facts About 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 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.

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.

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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