Physical therapy is frequently thought of as an adjunct to recovery after an accident or surgical procedure, but there are many ways that the strengthening and flexibility improvements garnered by physical therapy exercises can decrease the severity of and even avoid problems like flat feet, hammertoes, heel pain, and tendonitis.
Your foot care professional has an exciting variety of therapy methods to offer, including the usual stretching and flexing exercises, taping and bracing methods, electrical stimulation, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy which involves the use of high-frequency sound waves to promote the healing process.
Some of the amazing benefits of regular physical therapy include the following:
- Strength, flexibility, and mobility improvements—Muscles, tendons, and ligaments grow weaker during the healing period after an injury, so it is very important to slowly add physical therapy exercises to rebuild muscles and increase the strength and flexibility of tendons and ligaments. This reinvigoration promotes better balance and stability that can prevent falls and avoid the many injuries in the first place.
- Preventing the need for surgery—A wide variety of foot and ankle conditions are improved with the benefits of physical therapy and other stimulation methods which can avoid future surgery.
- Minimizing pain and discomfort —Pain and inflammation can be greatly reduced with physical therapy exercises. Properly warming up before working out or playing sports is also essential to avoid unnecessary injuries.
If you would like to benefit from physical therapy, consult with your foot care professional for an introduction to a comprehensive program of foot health development. Call Syracuse Podiatry located in East Syracuse, New York. Expert podiatrists Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico and Dr. Payel Ghosh will help you diagnose and treat your foot or ankle condition. Call 315-446-3668 or contact us for an appointment today.