Many people think that physical therapy and rehabilitation after an orthopedic injury or surgery are the same, mostly because mostly because a layperson often uses both terms interchangeably.
However, rehabilitation is an umbrella term encompassing many interventions, one of which is physical therapy. Let’s talk about the aspects differentiating physical therapy from rehabilitation and where you can go in Clinton Township, MI, for comprehensive care.
Physical Therapy Vs. Rehabilitation
Physical therapy focuses on functional improvement while rehabilitation aims to help you with mental and cognitive abilities and physical abilities. Both physical therapy and rehabilitation have different techniques and goals.
The following information will help you understand rehab and its techniques and physical therapy and its techniques.
Physical Therapy: What Is It?
Physical therapy helps improve the functional problems resulting from orthopedic injuries and other conditions. No other methods can beat the benefits of physical therapy when it comes to healing quickly and completely with less pain and a greater range of motion after an orthopedic treatment.
While physical therapy relieves pain and improves the ability to heal, it also helps delay or avoid orthopedic surgery altogether in some situations.
Physical therapy can significantly:
- Improve strength, flexibility, balance, and mobility
- Improve range of motion
- Relieve joints, muscles, and other pains
- Restore or improve blood circulation in the injury area
- Help prevent future injuries
- Enhance athletic performance
What Physical Therapy Involves?
Like any other therapy, the physical therapy regimen also depends on the type of your injury, the severity of your injury or condition, the severity of your symptoms, and overall health.
Common techniques involved in your physical therapy regimen may include:
- Gait training
- Manual therapy
- Strength training
- Stretching exercises
- Electrical stimulation, more specifically transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Exercises to relieve pain and improve range of motion, balance, and flexibility
- Massage therapy
- Light or laser therapy
- Traction
- Training to improve motor skills
- Joint mobilization and manipulation
- Hot/cold therapy
- Proper posture and biomechanics
Rehabilitation: What Is It?
Rehabilitation is care that helps you get back, keep, and improve the physical aspects of well-being and the mental and cognitive states. Rehabilitation primarily enhances the daily life and functioning of people who lost their physical, mental, and/or cognitive abilities due to an injury or disease or as a side effect of medical treatment.
What Is Included in Rehabilitation?
The ultimate goal of rehabilitation is to help you regain your abilities and independence. Interventions and approaches involved in rehabilitation therapy of a patient entirely depend on the cause behind the problem, what abilities are lost, and how severe the problem is.
The types of interventions involved in rehabilitation include:
- Occupational therapy (helps with daily activities)
- Physical therapy (improves mobility, strength, and fitness)
- Cognitive therapy (helps relearn or improve skills such as memory, thinking, planning, and more)
- Mental health counseling
- Nutritional counseling
- Recreational therapy (helps improve emotional well-being)
- Speech-language therapy (helps with reading, speaking, understanding, and more).
Following an injury, these therapies are provided according to the individual’s needs.
Physical Therapy in Clinton Township, MI
If you have surgery scheduled or want to recover quickly after an orthopedic treatment, consider our physical therapists at Movement Orthopedics in Clinton Township, Michigan. Our physical therapists are well-versed in providing you with the comprehensive care you deserve. They will help you heal quickly and completely from all orthopedic injuries and conditions, whether simple or complex.
For inquiries or to schedule your PT appointment, call our physical therapy clinic at (586) 488-2440 or request an appointment now.
