Medicare will pay for physical therapy that a doctor considers medically necessary to treat an injury or illness — for example, to manage a chronic condition like Parkinson’s disease or aid recovery from a fall, stroke or surgery.

Medicare Part A, which includes hospital insurance, or Part B, which covers outpatient treatment, might cover this service depending on the circumstances and the setting. The same holds true for occupational and speech therapy.
Medicare Part A pays some or all of the cost of physical therapy you receive at an inpatient rehabilitation facility.
It might also cover such services at a skilled nursing facility or at your home after a hospitalization lasting at least three days. Whether you incur out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles and coinsurance, and how much they are, will depend on the setting for the treatment and how long it lasts.
Medicare Part B can pay for outpatient physical therapy you receive:

• At a doctor’s or therapist’s office
• In hospital outpatient departments
• At outpatient rehabilitation facilities
• At skilled nursing facilities if you are being treated as an outpatient
• At home if a Medicare-certified home health agency is providing it and Part A does not cover it

For outpatient therapy, you pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for the service. The Part B deductible applies; Medicare will pay its share once you’ve met your deductible for the year.

Unlike with Part A, prior hospitalization is not a prerequisite for Part B to cover physical therapy.
Medicare used to set an annual maximum for what it would pay for outpatient therapeutic services, but the cap was eliminated in 2018. This government health insurance program no longer limits what it will pay in a given year for a beneficiary to receive medically necessary therapeutic services.
However, keep in mind that treatment recommended by a physical therapy provider but not ordered by a doctor is not covered. In this situation, the therapist is required to give you a written notice, called an Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage or ABN, that Medicare may not pay for the service.
If you choose to proceed with the therapy, you are agreeing to pay in full.
​
If you have questions about coverage and costs for therapeutic services, call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227)

Physical therapy can help restore normal physical functioning and reduce and eliminate various limitations or disabilities caused by disease, injury, or a chronic health condition. Physical therapy can help you maintain your independence and your ability to perform activities of daily living. If you qualify for Medicare due to age or a disability, you may have help covering the costs of physical therapy services that will improve your movement and overall health while reducing the risk of potential injury in the future.

What is Physical Therapy?

There are a variety of different therapy options available to patients, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services. Physical therapy focuses on restoring and increasing joint mobility, muscle strength, and overall functionality. All of these factors play key roles in improving quality of life and affecting the activities and hobbies you are able to participate in.
Physical therapists are able to use their extensive knowledge and training to help your body move better and work more effectively. They have the ability to speed up the recovery process after an injury or surgical procedure and help prevent any further complications.

Do Medicare Benefits Cover Physical Therapy Treatments?

Medicare does offer coverage for all physical therapy treatments that are prescribed by a physician and deemed medically necessary to improve your specific health condition. In most cases, your therapy treatments are covered by Medicare Part B. Part B is responsible for covering medically necessary outpatient procedures and services.

If you do receive your physical therapy at a doctor’s office or other outpatient center, Medicare will cover 80 percent of the Medicare-approved cost. This cost is predetermined by the insurance company as the maximum amount they will pay for a specific service. You will be required to pay the additional 20 percent of the treatment out of pocket. Keep in mind that you will also be responsible for paying your monthly premium and any additional amounts until you reach your deductible.

Individuals can continue receiving physical therapy treatments as often as needed, but if you do reach a certain amount of visits and your total charges exceed $2,000, your physician will be required to submit additional information regarding your health and case-specific details. If Medicare deems your treatment to be medically necessary, your therapy may continue and the insurance will continue to pay 80 percent of the approved amount.

Physical Therapy at Home

If you are homebound and require physical therapy treatments to occur in your own home, you may receive coverage through your Medicare benefits for home health care. Specific requirements must be met to receive home health care, including being homebound and needing skilled nursing services intermittently.

Physical therapy services must be performed by a licensed physical therapist, and regular checkups with your physician must be maintained. If you do receive coverage for home health services and require medical equipment that has been prescribed by your physician, Medicare Part B can help. You will likely pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for any durable medical equipment you may need, such as wheelchairs, oxygen supplies, or hospital beds, as long as you rent or  purchase your equipment through a Medicare-approved supplier that accepts assignment.

Medicare Advantage are required to provide the same Part A and Part B benefits as Original Medicare, but many plans provide additional coverage. Check with your plan for exact costs if you require physical therapy.

​https://www.medicare.org

Pain is a common symptom of many diseases and injuries. Often, pain treatment is necessary to alleviate the effects of painful conditions. Unfortunately, there are many treatments that are ineffective at best and are actually dangerous to the body, which is why it is important to use your doctor or physical therapist’s advice.
Though therapists like those at Zenergy come highly recommended, choosing the best health practitioner to help with your individual pain relief is like picking the right doctor. Choosing the best physical therapy to help with pain relief is like picking the right doctor. There are many factors to consider when deciding who you will see on a regular basis. There are several different types of treatment options, ranging from minor procedures to major ongoing treatments. 

What is Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is the field of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, injuries, and pathologies through physical agents, such as exercise, medications, massage, or manual therapy. It is done with the patient working with a physical therapist for the purpose of improving physical function, physical performance, or physical appearance.
Physical therapy is the range of medical treatments that help you move and feel better. Physical therapy can help improve strength and mobility and supplement other treatments such as orthotics and exercise. It is a treatment that often works in conjunction with other treatments such as rehabilitation and specific physical activities.
Physical therapy is a health specialty that provides services for people with physical disabilities and conditions that cause pain, disability, and/or functional limitation. Physical therapy is directed at restoring, maintaining, and enhancing functional capabilities. It is used to optimize function and quality of life by addressing the patient’s pain, restoring functional capabilities, and improving self-confidence and quality of life.

What are the benefits of Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy has become a common way for people to recover from illness, injury, and pain-and many people assume it’s at least somewhat effective. But what are the benefits of physical therapy?
​We often hear that physical therapy has benefits that can help you maintain health and mobility. As you feel the stretching exercises, you may also notice that you move better.
Physical Therapy is a type of treatment that is used to help support individuals with injuries, pain, and mobility issues. A physical therapist provides individualized treatment for the purpose of improving movement, mobility, and/or pain. Physical therapists are specialized professionals who have specialized training in how the body moves and works. They provide physical therapy that is based on the individualized needs of the patient.

How does Physical Therapy Relieve Pain

The human body is a complicated machine and is made up of over 100 trillion cells. One of the most important of these is a muscle, responsible for most of our movements. However, muscles are made up of many different types of cells that work together to keep them healthy, strong, and flexible. When the cells are damaged, muscles can become weak, tight, or even painful.
The human body is amazingly resilient, but if something goes wrong, it’s important to see a doctor. Despite the fact that our bodies are great at healing themselves, it’s always a good idea to get help when your pain becomes severe. Physical therapy offers a wide range of treatments designed to relieve pain, improve function, and restore normal movement.
Physical therapy is also an effective mode of treatment for many kinds of pain due to injuries. Physical therapy combines the use of various physical exercises along with therapeutic interventions (such as massage, electrical stimulation, and laser therapy) to help patients improve their function and quality of life. Though for some, therapy might not be enough to get over all kinds of pain. For instance, a retired military veteran could have faced difficult conditions and may have physical as well as mental ailments. It could be possible that only therapy won’t work for him, and he might look for additional alternatives such as medical marijuana.

Since cannabis and marijuana can provide temporary relief, it can be helpful to keep following regular physical therapy sessions to see positive results.
Physical therapy is the process of restoring movement in individuals who have sustained injuries. Physical therapy can help a person with a stroke, a spinal cord injury, arthritis, a nervous system injury, a head injury, a sports injury, a birth injury, a fall, a stroke, or a spinal cord or brain infection. Physical therapists help patients regain the use of a limb, a shoulder, a neck, a back, a hip, a knee, a foot, a hand, a wrist, a finger, a thumb, an ankle, a leg, a foot, a hand, an elbow or a shoulder following an injury. Physical therapy can also help people regain the use of muscle following a stroke, a spinal cord injury, and a stroke. Aside from that, if a person has specific foot and ankle injuries, he can refer to a healthcare specialist – podiatrist
can refer you to any  podiatric service providers who can diagnose and treat medical conditions and injuries involving the feet. 

Conclusion:
Physical therapy is a branch of medicine that aims to restore bodily functions or structures. Physical therapy is mainly used to treat injuries, muscle problems, surgeries, sports injuries, conditions related to arthritis, and common medical conditions. Physical therapy can be used to improve movement, prevent injuries, and restore normal movement.

Physical therapy is particularly important for adults ages 65 and older as muscles and joints tend to lose strength and stability over time. This change can negatively impact older adults' independence in performing daily tasks and movements, like changing positions, standing, walking, and going up and down stairs.

Learn about the types of physical therapy that can benefit older adults.

What Is Geriatric Physical Therapy? 

Geriatric physical therapy is a form of physical therapy specifically geared toward older adults and their unique issues and challenges. Geriatric physical therapy takes into account that older adults tend to become less active over time, experience a decrease in muscle strength, coordination, and reaction timing, and have a lower tolerance for physical activity. 

Geriatric physical therapy is different from other types of physical therapy because it focuses more on building strength and endurance in older adults to help in the following ways:

• Keeping active
• Preventing deconditioning (reversal of previous conditioning)
• Preventing muscle atrophy (the wasting away of muscles)
• Decreasing the risk of falls and related injuries
• Maintaining independence in performing daily activities

Geriatric physical therapy can be performed in a variety of settings, including:

• Hospitals and clinics on an outpatient basis
• Inpatient healthcare facilities like nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, as well as assisted living facilities
• At home, which is especially helpful for those with mobility challenges who have difficulty getting out

Most geriatric physical therapy is performed on an outpatient basis and covered by Medicare Part B. Home care services are also covered under Medicare Part B, while inpatient services are covered under Medicare Part A. For older adults not covered under Medicare, physical therapy can also be partially or fully covered by commercial insurance plans and state-funded Medicaid plans based on medical necessity.
Additional Senior Rehabilitation  Other rehabilitation services for older adults to restore health and optimal physical functioning include:

• Neurological physical therapy to treat neurological conditions like strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease
• Cardiac rehabilitation to improve endurance and restore proper cardiac functioning after a heart attack or heart surgery
• Occupational therapy to restore fine motor control and functional hand use to complete activities of daily living

 Do You Need Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy?
Stretches and Equipment for Seniors  Geriatric physical therapy generally consists of a variety of exercises that improve strength, flexibility, endurance, and balance to aid in activities and movements and prevent overall deconditioning. Exercises typically include:

• Lower body stretches, especially for the lower back, hamstrings, and hip flexors, to promote good mobility and joint alignment and to prevent tight muscles or stiff joints from interfering with proper muscle activation
• Endurance training to keep the heart and lungs healthy and to improve circulation using cardiovascular equipment like treadmills and stationary bikes
• Lower body strengthening exercises that target the glutes and quads (muscles in the thighs and buttocks) to maintain strength, such as sit-to-stands, squats, step-ups, leg lifts, and bridges
• Balance exercises to help you maintain your stability when standing, walking, and changing directions, including static balance exercises on flat and uneven surfaces, weight-shifting exercises, marching, and tandem walking heel to toe

Geriatric physical therapy includes body weight exercises to help improve your mobility. If equipment is used, usually only light weights or bands are provided to supply increased resistance without overloading joints.

Physical Activity Tips 

Physical activity is important for people of any age, but it's especially important for older adults over 65 to prevent deconditioning and to maintain functional strength, endurance, and range of motion for everyday activities. An increased sedentary lifestyle (sitting or lying down for long periods of time) in older adults can quickly lead to weakness and muscle atrophy, poor balance, chronic pain, poor activity tolerance, and increased risk of falls.

Adults ages 65 and older should aim to do something physical every day, even if it is just light activity like walking around your home, cooking, or cleaning. Performing exercises that improve strength, balance, and flexibility should be done at least two days a week.

You also should aim to complete at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity over the course of an entire week. Moderate intensity activity includes brisk walking, hiking, aerobics, bike riding, dancing, and sports and recreational activities.

Summary 

Geriatric physical therapy focuses on helping older adults strengthen the muscles they need to complete everyday tasks, such as walking, climbing stairs, and shifting positions. Attending geriatric physical therapy can therefore help older adults remain independent and prevent other conditions that may occur from lack of physical activity, such as muscle atrophy.

A Word From Verywell Staying active and exercising is key to aging healthily and preventing deconditioning and chronic conditions that worsen with inactivity. Attending geriatric physical therapy can help jump-start you into a more active lifestyle. Physical therapy can provide you with useful exercises and tips to improve your strength, flexibility, and balance, which will help in your everyday activities at home.

Frequently Asked Questions  

How does geriatric physical therapy help older adults? 

Geriatric physical therapy helps older adults regain the muscle strength, balance, and coordination needed to improve their ability to walk, their overall mobility and level of functioning, and their independence so they can perform everyday tasks.
What exercises are good for older adults?  

Good exercises for older adults help provide strength, stability, balance, and power to complete everyday movements such as getting up from a chair, going up and down stairs, and walking. Specific muscle groups that may be targeted include the quadriceps and glutes. These are activated through a variety of exercises, including standing up and sitting down in a chair, step-ups, bridges, clamshells, leg lifts, and balance exercises.

What exercises should older adults avoid?  

To avoid injury, older adults should not participate in strenuous exercises that involve heavy lifting and high impact. Exercises should be performed slowly and with good control. Also, they should be completed using only body weight or with light resistance to encourage proper joint movement and muscle activation without putting stress on muscles, tendons, or joints. 

Often during pregnancy and childbirth, cesarean section ( c-section), or vaginal delivery, pelvic floor muscles can be stretched and sometimes damaged. This can lead to functional problems of the pelvic floor, which can include:

• Urinary incontinence
• Urinary frequency or urgency
• Fecal incontinence
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Pain with sexual activity
• Scar pain (may be lower abdominal from a c-section or near the vaginal opening from a vaginal delivery)
• Low back pain or pelvic pain
• Diastasis Recti (separation of the abdominal muscles)

Luckily, these issues can be treated through outpatient pelvic floor physical therapy. Our physical expert Dr. Natalie specializes in treating women’s health always perform a thorough patient history and examination with each of patient to help to create the most appropriate and individualized treatment plan. When treating a woman following childbirth, patient education is often focused on where and what the pelvic floor is, as well as its functions. The functions of the pelvic floor are:

• To provide postural support
• To support the pelvic organs (bladder, bowels, and uterus)
• To help control the bladder and bowels
• To contribute to sexual function

Openly discussing with patients their goals for physical therapy is an important step in treating women with pelvic floor dysfunction, as it can be devastating. Some women are afraid to leave the house or take their baby for a walk because of discomfort or leakage. If her goal is to be able to push her baby in a stroller for five blocks, then that is what we focus on.
It is important for new moms to wait at least six weeks after delivery before starting therapy, so their bodies has a chance to heal. Pelvic floor physical therapy following childbirth varies depending on the patient’s complaints and goals, however treatment sessions may include:

• Strengthening exercises for the pelvic floor, legs, or abdominal muscles
• Stretching or relaxation exercises for shortened or painful muscles
• Scar massage
• Coordination exercises 
• Behavioral modifications and patient education
• Biofeedback for strengthening or relaxing muscles
• Modalities such as heat, ice, or electrical stimulation

An important part of pelvic floor physical therapy is homework for patients to work on outside of therapy sessions. By doing exercises and stretches at home, patients can progress in physical therapy more quickly, while learning how to help manage their condition independently.

Lymphatic drainage massage, also known as manual lymphatic drainage, relieves swelling that happens when medical treatment or illness blocks your lymphatic system. Lymphatic drainage massage involves gently manipulating specific areas of your body to help lymph move to an area with working lymph vessels.​ 

What is a lymphatic drainage massage used for?
Lymphatic drainage massage, also known as manual lymphatic drainage, is a gentle form of massage used to relieve painful swelling in your arms and legs caused by lymphedema. Lymphedema often affects people recovering from breast cancer surgery. 

Lymphedema happens when your tissues retain fluid left behind after your cardiovascular system sends blood to your tissues and organs. 

The remaining fluid is called lymph. Normally, your lymphatic system collects your lymph and returns it to your heart via a network of lymph vessels and lymph nodes. When something disrupts your lymphatic system's process, lymph collects in your arms and legs, making them swell.
A massage therapist uses lymphatic drainage massage techniques to move lymph from your tissues to your lymph nodes, which eases the swelling in your tissues. 
Do lymphatic drainage massages work?Healthcare providers are still studying whether lymphatic drainage massages make a difference. Some studies show people age 60 and below benefitted by having lymphatic drainage massages.

How are lymphatic drainage massages done?A lymphatic drainage massage is a two-step process:

• Clearing: This step releases lymphatic fluid in your tissues.
• Reabsorption: This step moves your lymphatic fluid to your lymph nodes.

Are there other ways to remove lymphatic fluid from my tissues?
Some people benefit from a mechanical process. In this process, you put a sleeve on the swollen arm or leg. The sleeve is attached to a pneumatic pump that pulsates and helps your lymph to drain from your tissues to your lymph nodes.

What are some conditions that can benefit from lymphatic drainage massage?Lymphatic drainage massages are often used to relieve lymphedema following breast cancer surgery. Other conditions that benefit from lymphatic drainage massages are:

• Rheumatoid arthritis: This is ongoing arthritis in your joints causing joint pain, swelling and stiffness.
• Fibromyalgia: This condition causes chronic muscle and joint pain.
• Chronic venous insufficiency: This happens when your leg veins aren't working effectively, making it hard for your blood to return to your heart from your legs.
• Lipedema: This happens when excess fat accumulates in your lower body, blocking your lymphatic pathway and causing lymphedema.

Are there any risks associated with lymphatic drainage massage?Generally speaking, lymphatic drainage massage is a safe treatment to relieve lymphedema. There are some conditions and circumstances where lymphatic drainage massage is not recommended:

• You have a heart condition.
• You have kidney failure.
• You have blood clots.
• You have an infection.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re concerned your physical health might be affected by lymphatic drainage massage.

Will lymphatic drainage massages make my lymphedema go away?You might not see immediate results from lymphatic drainage massages. If you have several sessions without result, ask your healthcare provider about alternative treatments.

How can I drain my lymphatic system myself?Talk to your healthcare provider about learning lymphatic draining massage techniques. They will have information to help you decide if you would benefit from doing lymphatic draining massage yourself or by working with a trained massage therapist.

What happens if I'm feeling sick after a lymphatic drainage massage?

Few people have negative reactions to lymphatic drainage massage. Some people, however, complain of headaches, nausea and fatigue. When that happens, you should ask your healthcare provider about managing your side effects.

When should I see my healthcare provider if I'm doing a lymphatic drainage massage?You should call your provider if your lymphedema appears to be getting worse.

Lymphedema causes swelling and raises your risk of infection. It's an unfortunate and uncomfortable outcome of some treatments for cancer and other illnesses. Lymphatic drainage massage is one way to relieve your lymphedema symptoms. Ask your healthcare provider if a lymphatic drainage massage might be helpful.

Did you hurt your knee or have surgery? Or is it achy and stiff because of arthritis? Either way, you might feel like the last thing you should do is get on your feet and move your joint around. But often physical therapy (PT) is what your doctor suggests to get your strength back and put you on the road to recovery.
PT, or rehab as some people call it, can ease your muscle and joint pain. You'll work with a physical therapist, a licensed professional who uses a variety of methods to help strengthen your muscles and make your body feel and move better.
Some things you might need are:

• Stretches and exercises
• Ice and heat
• Ultrasound massage
• Electrical nerve or muscle stimulation

When you get physical therapy depends on the cause of your pain. Sometimes it’s all you need for treatment. You might not need surgery.
​
If you do have an operation, your doctor will likely suggest at least a few weeks of therapy afterward to help you recover. They might recommend a specific physical therapy office, or you can find one near you by checking the American Physical Therapy Association’s website.

What Happens at the First Session?
You'll work one on one with your physical therapist to come up with your treatment plan. They'll discuss ways to rebuild the strength and movement in your leg and knee, so you can feel better and go back to doing the things you love to do.

At your first visit, your therapist will look at your leg and see how well your knee bends, straightens, and moves. They'll also see if:

• It’s hard for you to balance
• You have pain in your knee
• It hurts when you move your lower leg back and forth
• It’s hard to stand on one leg
• You have weak muscles in the front and back of your thigh, which support the knee

To figure out your trouble spots, they may ask you to hop on one leg or take a short walk on a treadmill. They may recommend you use crutches, a walker, or wear special shoes to prevent falls at home while you recover.

After the First VisitYou'll start to work on making your leg muscles stronger, which takes some of the stress off your knee and cut your pain. Your therapist will give you exercises to do at home and show you how to practice them safely.
Strength training exercises are a key part of the PT workout. For instance, you may need to do some of these moves:

• Hamstring curls
• Single leg dips
• Step-ups
• Straight leg lifts
• Wall squats
• Balancing exercises

You usually start with just a few at a time and then do more as you get stronger. You may need to add weights to make your muscles work harder.

Tell your therapist if something hurts. You might have a little discomfort, but stop if you feel a lot of pain.
You could feel stiff or sore after your therapy, so plan ahead for some time to rest. Ask your doctor or therapist how to get relief from this achiness.

Your physical therapist may also use electricity to help improve your leg muscle strength and knee movement. It's a method called "TENS," short for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.
They'll put sticky patches called electrodes on the front of the thigh above your knee. A wire connects each one to the TENS machine. They turn it on, and when they do, tiny electrical signals tingle the nerves in your muscle. This boosts the flow of your blood and helps ease pain.

How Long Will It Take for My Knee to Get Better?

Your doctor or physical therapist will tell you how often you need to go to therapy. It might be several times a week for 6 weeks or longer. The amount depends on how much your knee hurts and whether or not you had surgery.

Your therapist will stay in touch with your doctor and discuss your progress. Together, the three of you can decide when you feel ready to scale back on sessions.

Low back pain is the most common diagnosis seen in many physical therapy clinics, and it affects nearly 85% to 90% of Americans at one time or another. It is the second leading cause of visits to a doctor, after the common cold.

Low back pain is also the leading cause of lost time at work, and billions of dollars are spent each year diagnosing and treating low back pain.

The low back, or lumbar spine, consists of five bones, or vertebrae, stacked upon one another. Between the bones are soft, spongy shock absorbers called intervertebral discs. The spinal cord and nerves are protected by these bones. Multiple ligaments and muscular attachments provide stability and mobility to the lumbar spine.

​Causes Some common causes of low back pain are herniated discs and arthritis, which may be triggered by poor sitting posture, frequent forward bending, and lifting heavy items.

Although trauma may be a cause of low back pain, most often there is no apparent reason for the onset of symptoms. Thus, it is thought that repetitive strain on the structures around the lumbar spine is the main cause of low back pain.

When to Seek Help Remember, low back pain can be a serious problem and it is highly recommended to consult a physician, physical therapist or another qualified healthcare provider if low back symptoms are present and are significantly limiting function and mobility. Also, there are a few signs and symptoms that require immediate medical attention. These include, but are not limited to:

1. Loss of muscular control. If a sudden loss of muscular control in the hip, thigh, calf, shin, or toes occurs, an immediate referral to a physician is warranted. If you are not able to lift your leg to walk, rise from a chair, or walk upstairs, you may have a serious problem that needs medical attention.
2. Loss of bowel or bladder function. If structures in the low back are compressing the spinal cord or nerves that control bowel and bladder function, loss of bowel or bladder control may occur. Most often, the primary symptom is an inability to urinate. If this occurs with the onset of low back pain, it should be considered a medical emergency and immediate medical attention is required.​
3. History of cancer or metastatic disease. Although rare, it is always a good idea to see a physician if you have a recent onset of low back pain and a history of cancer.Simple tests can be performed to rule out metastatic disease and proper treatment can be initiated.
4. Recent significant trauma. Although rare, low back pain can be brought on by trauma such as falls or motor vehicle accidents.If significant trauma has taken place and caused acute low back pain, a visit to a physician to rule out a fracture is required before initiating treatment.

Why Symptom Location Is Important Symptom location may also be helpful to identify the cause of the problem and to start self-management of low back pain.

What to Do When Low Back Pain Occurs If you are currently experiencing low back pain, gentle self-care exercises should be started to restore mobility and decrease pain.Since poor posture is a major cause of low back pain, maintaining proper posture is important. Use a small pillow or towel roll to support the spine while sitting. Remember, if pain prevents you from exercising or if pain persists for more than 2-3 weeks, a visit to a physician, physical therapist, or other healthcare provider is necessary.

What to Expect From Physical Therapy When low back pain is persistent or interferes with normal activities, a visit to a physical therapist may be necessary. When you go to a physical therapist, he or she will perform an initial evaluation on the first visit. Be prepared to move around quite a bit, so be sure to wear comfortable clothing and make sure that your low back is accessible.

An initial evaluation will consist of several different parts. First, a history of your present problem will be taken. Be prepared to discuss your symptoms and what activities or positions make your symptoms better or worse. Some special questions will be asked to help the therapist determine the nature of your problem and to discover anything that needs immediate medical attention.

The physical therapist will also take measurements of how you are moving. This may include measurements of your range of motion and strength. A postural assessment will also be included in the initial evaluation. From the results of the evaluation, a specific treatment plan will be devised and started. It is important to remember to be an active participant in your treatment and ask questions if you are unsure of what to do.
​
Coping and Management When an acute episode of low back pain strikes, don't panic. Most studies indicate that acute low back pain is short-lived and most symptoms resolve spontaneously in a few short weeks. With that in mind, low back pain, although short-lived, tends to be episodic in nature. Many times, people have multiple episodes of low back pain during their lifetimes. Recurrent episodes tend to get progressively worse with the passage of time. Therefore, it is important to not only treat the symptoms of low back pain but also to have a strategy to prevent future low back problems

One of the most important times to care for your low back is when you have no symptoms. By maintaining proper posture and appropriate strength and mobility in the spine, episodes of low back pain may be avoided completely. Check in with your physical therapist, who can help you learn what you can do for your back pain or sciatica.

​

Whether you’re experiencing shoulder pain from an injury, tendinitis, arthritis, or a muscle tear, it’s certainly no fun. Our shoulder joints are made up of three sections that offer us the most range of motion out of all of our joints. It’s no wonder then that shoulder pain and injuries are as common as they are. We see well over 100 post-operative shoulder patients every year. Patients visit us for rehabilitation after surgery for rotator cuff repairs, anatomic shoulder replacements, reverse shoulder replacements, anterior and posterior stabilization surgery, and the most complex shoulder fracture care. How can physical therapy reduce shoulder pain? How can physical therapy treat a rotator cuff injury? Find out now.

Causes of Shoulder Pain

A carefully assembled physical therapy plan is the first form of treatment for shoulder pain or rotator cuff injuries. The first stage to assembling a therapy program is understanding the root of your symptoms. The most common reasons for shoulder pain have to do with swelling or damage to the rotator cuff. Some common causes of shoulder pain are rotator cuff tendinitis, arthritis, dislocation, rotator cuff tears, poor posture, and more.

Your physical therapist will start by conducting a thorough assessment to understand exactly where your pain is radiating from. The pain you’re experiencing in your shoulder could actually be caused by a problem with your neck or lungs. It’s important for a licensed professional to examine your shoulder to assess which part of the shoulder is experiencing pain, what motions you’re struggling to perform, and where your shoulder might be lacking strength.
Sudden left shoulder pain can be a sign of a heart attack. If you feel a crushing pain running from your chest to the left jaw or arm, potentially accompanied by shortness of breath, please call
.Treatment for Shoulder Pain

Your Physical Therapist will examine your shoulder’s functionality and combine those findings with your individual goals to create a tailored therapy program. They’ll put together a plan that focuses on strengthening the muscles around your shoulder and improving mobility. Physical therapy is a safe, effective, non-surgical method for treating shoulder pain or rotator cuff injuries. Since physical therapy is based on a combination of stretches, exercises, and ingraining healthy postural habits, it’s effective for preventing further pain as well. The exact exercises and whether they will include other parts of the body depends on the cause of shoulder pain, as well as other patient circumstances.


Physical therapy for shoulder pain will typically include:

• Stretches designed to train & control the muscles attached to the shoulder.
• Exercises designed to strengthen the rotator cuff and scapular muscles.
• Hands-on physical therapy and treatments such as Blood Flow Restriction Therapy.
• Carefully crafted home exercise program.

found that 75% of people with a full tear in their rotator cuff were able to rehab their shoulder wit
Why Visit a Physical Therapist for Shoulder Pain?

Your physical therapist is there to help you master your technique. With improper form, the same exercises that are designed to heal you could actually harm you. By using the wrong muscles, favoring one side of the body, or improperly balancing your weight, such exercises can have a completely different effect on your body. Your physical therapist is there to guide you every step of the way. An experienced physical therapist knows exactly what questions to ask and signs to look for, indicating you’re executing the exercise properly.
​
What can physical therapy do for shoulder pain?

• Increase range of motion
• Improve posture & balance
• Prevent recurring pain or worsening pain
• Reduce pain or stiffness of the shoulders

​
Sometimes simple home interventions are enough to treat cervical disc disease, in which an abnormality in one or more discs that lie between the vertebrae cause neck pain. Often, though, it helps to see a physical therapist that can treat abnormalities, show you how to stretch and strengthen your neck and vertebrae, improve your posture, and prevent neck pain from recurring. You may also consider going to see a chiropractor. In the majority of people, certain exercises and manipulations used by these health care providers can help relieve discomfort and restore movement.

When you visit a physical therapist you’ll first have a complete evaluation. They will assess how well you can move your neck. You may be asked about symptoms such as pain in the neck or between the shoulder blades, pain that radiates down the arm to the hand or fingers, or numbness or tingling in the shoulder or arm. Your strength, reflexes, and other potential sources of pain will be checked. The therapist or chiropractor will also assess joint function in your neck and back to identify limitations or dysfunctions that may contribute to your pain.

Stretch, Strengthen, and Straighten Up

There are several types of manipulations and exercises your physical therapist  can use to relieve stiffness, strengthen the area, and restore normal function of the neck. Treatments such as cold or heat application, and deep tissue massage,  may be used prior to exercise.

During physical therapy, you will practice a range of exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles that support your neck. You’ll also learn how to improve your posture and range of motion. To help you learn proper postures, the physical therapist might have you stand in front of a mirror while exercising so that you can see your mistakes and correct them.
Your physical therapist or medical doctor should determine whether you are at risk of further injury from manipulations before treating you.

Neck Traction for Cervical Disc Disease

One technique used by physical therapists and chiropractors to provide pain relief and improve motion is cervical traction. Traction gently extends the neck, opening the spaces between the cervical vertebrae and temporarily alleviating pressure on the affected discs. Neck traction can either be done continuously or intermittently, alternating between short periods of pulling and resting.
It’s also possible to do cervical traction at home. There are pulley systems that you can hook up to a doorway, or devices that will enable you to perform cervical traction while lying down. It’s important if you do cervical traction on your own to first see your physical therapist or chiropractor to make sure that you buy the right equipment and learn how to set it up correctly.

By Stephanie Watson
 Medically Reviewed by Tyler Wheeler, MD on April 21, 2021