Aches and pains are something that often get written off as “aging” or a normal part of life. Here are some of our top reasons to make an appointment with an orthopedic specialist who fully understands the musculoskeletal system instead of waiting it out. My global recommendation is if you are limiting yourself in any way from your desired activity level, seek out help from an orthopedic physical therapist! Waiting it out often leads to more severe injury, longer recovery times, or compensations that create additional injuries.
When you should consider orthopedic physical therapy
1. Lower Back Pain
Low back pain is the leading cause of activity limitation, days off work, and carries a high economic cost. At least 80% of people experience low back pain at some point in their life.
If your low back pain is causing you to decrease your desired activity level, miss family activities, miss work activities, or decrease sleep quality, then you should consider making an orthopedic physical therapy appointment.
2. Pelvic Floor Symptoms
Any form of urinary incontinence or pelvic pain can be addressed by a physical therapist who has additional levels of training in addition to their orthopedic background. Compleo Waco has two fantastic pelvic floor therapists. If you are not in Waco, Texas, check https://pelvicrehab.com/ to find a provider near you.
3. Scoliosis
Scoliosis progresses with rapid growth spurts, if your child is not finished growing and has scoliosis they need to be seen by a physical therapist with additional orthopedic schroth scoliosis training. Scoliosis is an “s” or “c” shaped curve in the spine and it is not caused by bad posture! A physical therapist can teach schroth-based exercises to improve pain, prevent curve progression (this is important even if no pain is present), and focus on breathing and posture. Compleo Waco is a schroth provider, but if you are not near Waco, TX, you can find a schroth provider here: https://www.schroth-barcelonainstitute.com/scoliosis-certified-physical-therapists-usa.html.
4. Plantar Fasciitis
This is another often ignored ailment or self-treated ailment with over-the-counter night splints. The underlying cause of plantar fasciitis is usually multifaceted including hip weakness, biomechanics, and tissue restrictions. Without addressing all causes with an individualized approach from an orthopedic physical therapist, you may have failed treatment or experience a high recurrence rate.
5. Ankle Sprains
“Ankle sprains are one of the most common recurrent injuries of the lower extremity. Up to 40% of ankle sprains go on to develop chronic symptoms, including pain, swelling, instability, and recurrence that persists at least 12 months post-injury.” Ankle sprains are also one of the most common injuries that we wait out without formal intervention. Orthopedic physical therapy can help you recover quicker and also improve strength, proprioceptive and balance awareness, and mechanics to prevent the development of chronic symptoms. If you sprain your ankle, don’t wait. Make an appointment with a physical therapist immediately to guide your recovery.
6. Knee Pain
There are a lot of possible causes of knee pain and your specialist can help you determine the best one and if additional referrals are needed. Your orthopedic physical therapist can help you understand the cause of knee pain and provide a plan to make it better. It is a myth that with arthritis or other underlying conditions, your pain will not get better.
7. Shoulder Pain
If you are having difficulty performing work tasks, reaching, or dressing tasks, then your shoulder pain is affecting your daily life. When treated at first signs, shoulder pain can improve greatly without progressing to more severe impingement and rotator cuff conditions.
In the state of Texas, you do not need a doctor’s referral to orthopedic physical therapy treatment. Our Doctors of Physical Therapy in both Waco and Dallas are trained in a variety of techniques including dry needling, manual therapy, fascial release, movement and postural analysis, and exercise prescription in order to put together an individualized plan that will help you get back to your life healthy, happy, and pain-free. Physical therapists are trained in differential diagnosis and can help you decide if your pain can be managed with conservative orthopedic care or if you need a referral to a higher level of care, additional specialist, or surgeon. Book an appointment today at Compleo Waco with an orthopedic physical therapist.
References:
Mugno AT, Constant D. Recurrent Ankle Sprain. [Updated 2022 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560619/
Wu A, March L, Zheng X, Huang J, Wang X, Zhao J, Blyth FM, Smith E, Buchbinder R, Hoy D. Global low back pain prevalence and years lived with disability from 1990 to 2017: estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Ann Transl Med. 2020 Mar;8(6):299. doi: 10.21037/atm.2020.02.175. PMID: 32355743; PMCID: PMC7186678.
