Got Joint or Muscle Pain? Physical Therapy May Help

This is the third of a three-part series. For more, read Part 1 and Part 2.

Surgery and prescription drugs can be the best course of treatment for certain diagnoses, but there is increasing evidence demonstrating that conservative treatments, like physical therapy, can be equally effective (and cheaper) for treating many conditions. 

“Physical therapists strive to optimize a patient’s movement and function in order for them to continue doing the things they enjoy in life," says Angela Bestwick, a physical therapist at Wilcox Medical Center. 

Physical therapy has proven as effective as surgery for meniscal tears and knee osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, spinal stenosis and degenerative disk disease, among other conditions. 

By getting to the root cause of the pain, rather than treating its symptoms, physical therapy also can catch health problems in their early stages, before they cause major harm. 

If you suffer from chronic pain and are unsure if physical therapy could help, check with your primary care physician (PCP) first. 

There are many different types of physical therapists, each of whom specialize in treating different types of pain.

Your PCP can refer you to the physical therapist who is right for you, and who will guide you in a hands-on approach to help relieve pain.

Published on: May 7, 2016