Why Physical Therapy Is So Important for Rehabilitation

After an injury or surgery, you want to return to your routine and favorite activities as soon as possible. Sitting or lying around is boring, and the lack of movement can make you irritated and depressed.

It would be nice if your body recovered quickly and without any effort, but the reality is you must play an active role in your healing. Enter physical therapy.

At North Valley Orthopedic Institute, Dr. Ramin Ganjianpour regularly prescribes physical therapy as part of the rehabilitation process. Here, we explain what physical therapy is and highlight its many benefits.

What’s physical therapy?

Physical therapy is a rehabilitation subspecialty that helps you regain strength, range of motion, and movement after an injury, surgery, or extended illness. 

It combines stretches, strengthening exercises, and manual therapies, like massage, to alleviate pain and reduce stiffness so you can return to work and other activities. 

Physical therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment. Instead, Dr. Ganjianpour develops a personalized rehabilitation protocol that aligns with your symptoms, goals, and fitness level. 

How does physical therapy help with rehabilitation?

Physical therapy provides many rehabilitative benefits. At North Valley Orthopedic Institute, Dr. Ganjianpour focuses on four specific areas:

1. Addressing faulty movement patterns

Many people with chronic pain and/or orthopedic problems change the way they move to alleviate symptoms. For instance, if you have osteoarthritis in your left knee, you might place more weight on your right leg when walking to reduce pressure. 

This adjustment may seem minor, but over time, it can significantly affect your gait (walking pattern) and quality of life.

Physical therapy aims to restore a healthy range of motion, focusing on areas of weakness to promote healing and balance. 

2. Stretching tight muscles and lubricating stiff joints

After an injury, extended illness, or surgery, it’s normal to have tight, swollen muscles and stiff joints. Following days or weeks of immobility, fluid accumulates in your joints and inflammation occurs throughout your body. 

Physical therapy addresses these common problems with stretches and manual therapies, like massage. These activities increase circulation, reduce swelling, and promote your body’s natural healing process. 

3. Reducing the formation of scar tissue

Scarring is your body’s way of repairing damaged soft tissue. It’s a natural process that fills in gaps and pulls wounds together. But without intervention, your body can produce too much scar tissue, a condition called fibrosis. Fibrosis is painful and affects your range of motion.

Physical therapy can prevent fibrosis. For example, manual therapies like massage help stretch the scar tissue and improve joint flexibility. Similarly, exercises and stretches can break up excess scar tissue and speed up healing.

4. Strengthening weak muscles

Your muscles help support your bones and joints. The stronger they are, the easier it is for them to absorb shock and prevent wear-and-tear damage. Physical therapy uses targeted strengthening exercises to build muscle so you can move confidently and pain-free.

How long does a physical therapy program take?

How long your physical therapy program lasts depends on your injury severity, general health, and commitment to your plan. Minor injuries, like ankle sprains, often improve within 4-6 weeks, but recovery from surgery or an extended illness often takes longer. 

Thankfully, you can help speed up the process. Attend your scheduled checkups, practice your exercises as prescribed, and listen to your body. If a specific activity is painful, don’t push through it. Doing so can exacerbate the original problem and set back your recovery.

Contact North Valley Orthopedic Institute today if you’re ready to start physical therapy. Call the office in Mission Hills or Tarzana, California, or request your appointment online.