When you break a bone or get into a car accident, you may think of going to a physical therapist to help you regain mobility and strength. But did you know there are other illnesses and ailments that a physical therapist can help treat?
We’re dedicated to your health and helping you find relief through physical therapy. Here are five things physical therapy can treat so you can feel whole again.
Vertigo
If you’ve ever had an occasional dizzy spell, you know the uneasy (and sometimes queasy) feeling of the world spinning around you. If this happens here and there, you might not think it’s anything to worry about, but if it starts happening regularly, it could mean something more.
Dizziness (including vertigo) affects up to 20% of adults. For many people, dizziness stems from a disease or imbalance of the vestibular system within the inner ear, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common type.
With BPPV, the tiny, gravity-sensitive crystals in your inner ear are out of place. This condition can easily be treated by doing repositioning maneuvers. With a series of movements to the head, physical therapists can help the crystals in your inner ear get back to the correct position. Therapy for vertigo can be effective in as few as one or two sessions.
Jaw Pain
Have you ever taken a bite out of an apple and had your jaw lock in that position? Or maybe you’ve felt pain when brushing your teeth or speaking? Physical therapy can help you reduce that tension and alleviate pain.
Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) is a common problem associated with jaw pain, popping/locking and difficulty chewing. TMD can easily be treated with physical therapy. In fact, in a study published in the Journal of Dental Research, researchers found that physical therapy increased mouth-opening and decreased pain.
Urinary Pain
If you’ve ever had the sudden urge to use the restroom and hoped you would make it in time, you’re not alone, and incontinence is very common. Urinary incontinence is the technical term for leaking urine involuntarily. While it is most common in older adults, it can happen to anyone at any time.
Our physical therapists can help you regain bladder control and your confidence, too, through pelvic floor therapy. Your pelvic floor refers to the muscles that support your abdominal contents (rectum, bladder and uterus). It helps with urination and defecation, as well as prevents leakage of urine or stool.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can help strengthen those muscles so that you can live life without worrying about accidents.
Concussions
Whether you lead an active lifestyle or spend most of your time at the office, a concussion can set you back significantly. Seeking therapy for a concussion can help you slowly ease back into your normal routine.
Your physical therapist will determine what level of exercise you can sustain without your symptoms worsening. As your symptoms fade and you regain strength, your physical therapist can gradually introduce regular activities into your routine without overloading your brain, preventing symptoms from returning.
Headaches
Few things are more frustrating than a constant throbbing in your head while you try to go about your day. A physical therapist can assess different causes of your headaches and then create a personalized treatment plan to help reduce or eliminate the pain.
If you have tension headaches, your physical therapist will likely recommend exercises that manipulate the joints to improve your head and neck mobility. If you have frequent migraine headaches, your physical therapist may prescribe stretching exercises and teach you other techniques, such as icing, to help reduce pain.
At AdventHealth, we’re here to help you not only eliminate pain but feel whole in body, mind and spirit. Our licensed physical therapists have the experience to help you find relief from your aches and are ready to help you start healing. Learn more about working with a physical therapist today.
