Physical therapy is often just viewed as a way for injured individuals to regain some strength and get back on their feet, but a physical therapy routine can offer so much more than that. In fact, physical therapy can actually help to reduce your risk of some really serious health risks and diseases. In today’s blog, we take a look at five health risks that can be reduced with the help of a comprehensive physical therapy program.
Prevent These Health Complications Through Physical Therapy
You may be surprised to learn that the following conditions can either be prevented or have their symptoms lessened with the help of a physical therapy program:
- Early Death – According to a recent study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, inactivity is a key factor in more than 7% of all cardiovascular-related deaths. Physical activity and a physical therapy program can actually help you live longer by preventing inactivity-related heart ailments.
- Stroke – Inactivity also plays a common role in the onset of a stroke, because activity can help ensure we have healthy blood flow in our body. Moreover, in the aftermath of a stroke, physical therapy has been shown to greatly reduce a person’s likelihood of readmission or a secondary stroke. Staying active and participating in physical therapy after a stroke can help you regain more physical function and cut your risk of rehospitalization.
- COVID-19 Effects – Physical therapy won’t prevent you from getting COVID-19, but it can help to prevent severe side effects. Individuals who partook in 150 minutes of physical activity and exercise each week were much less likely to suffer from severe COVID-19 symptoms than those who did not get as much activity. Physical activity has also been linked to a lower COVID-19 mortality rate.
- Diabetes – Exercise, physical activity and a physical therapy program can all help to lower your risk of developing diabetes. These activities help ensure a number of bodily functions like hormone production and regulation continue as expected within the body.
- Opioid Dependency – Finally, one last threat to our health that can be reduced and prevented with the help of a physical therapy routine is opioid dependency and addiction. Physical therapy has been shown to reduce the need for long-term opioids to manage pain and discomfort. The sooner that PT can help you improve function and reduce pain, the less time you’ll need to deal with painkillers to help with the discomfort, and there’s a significant correlation between the length of opioid use and the likelihood of dependency. Let our team of physical therapists work with you to not only help improve your physical health, but reduce your risk of negative outcomes associated with long-term opioid use.
To see the benefits of physical therapy for yourself, sync up with a physical therapist at OrthoRehab Specialists today. Let us help you find a healthier version of yourself. For more information, contact our team today.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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