The physical therapy industry is booming. With the growing prevalence of chronic conditions among athletes and regular fitness enthusiasts alike, more and more people are turning to physical therapy for pain relief. And while this type of care has long been reserved for people with serious injuries or disabilities, there’s no reason why anyone should be left out. In fact, many find that many PT practices benefit their overall health, fitness, and well-being.

How can you take advantage? Read on to learn about some of these physical therapy benefits and tips helping you to get started and for staying fit!

Get active now

The best way to get started on the right foot in terms of physical health is by starting early. Now is the time to find a physical therapy treatment provider and get started on a plan that will keep you fit, happy, and healthy for years to come.

Additionally, it will help maintain good bone density that will help fight against the onset of osteoporosis later in life. It will also help maintain your muscle mass, which naturally decreases as you age and will improve your heart’s overall well-being (in addition to creating a healthy lifestyle habit).

Stretching pays off

It’s not glamorous or exciting like an intense workout at the gym might be, but stretching is incredibly important when it comes to staying in shape because it helps you to avoid injury. It also keeps your muscles flexible and strong, so that they don’t atrophy over time. This means if the physical therapist recommends specific stretches or exercises for certain injuries, be sure to stick with them.

At-home workouts are just as valuable

You might think that all of the good stuff happens at the physical therapy clinic, but you would be wrong. Many therapists recommend doing simple activities like yoga or Pilates at home to improve your strength and flexibility so that when it comes time for physical therapy exercises, the process can go more smoothly.

Consider incorporating a PT into your workout regimen

Physical therapists aren’t always just for people who are injured or have a condition. Here are a few reasons to consider having one for yourself:

You can get a baseline

A PT can professionally assess your range of motion, muscle strength and endurance, balance, coordination, and speed/agility in addition to any other fitness metrics. This means that they can create a custom workout plan that is optimized for you.

You can prevent injury

Whether you realize it or not, you may not have as good of form as you think. A PT can help improve your form and technique so that you avoid injuries like sprained ankles, pulled muscles, and even more serious conditions like tendonitis. They also understand how to work with all ages (so not just seniors) and genders, which is great for people who may feel intimidated by the gym or unsure of what they are doing. You can get an all-around workout program.

You can get expert advice without bias

Most fitness industry professionals may have an individual agenda. Personal trainers may want you to be a member at their gym. Yoga studio instructors may want you to do yoga. But a physical therapist is there to help you, free of bias. Their sole interest is in you meeting your goals. If they recommend something, it’s because they believe in its efficacy and benefits.

Physical therapy practices are beneficial to everyone, not just those with a chronic condition or injury. This is because the benefits of physical therapy stretch beyond improving your health and fitness, but also in maintaining a healthy lifestyle that will improve your quality of life for years to come. If you’re interested in learning more about how PT can help with your overall wellness goals, find a physical therapist near you today and ask them all your questions!

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What is a sports podiatrist, you might ask?

Basically, sports podiatrists are foot doctors that are experts in sports medicine. These doctors can diagnose, treat and manage injuries that anyone can get from playing sports.

If you’re a full-time athlete, sports podiatrists can also help you devise a plan to prevent foot injuries from happening in the first place. But if you’ve already hurt yourself, sports podiatrists have nothing else to do but to treat and help you recover from the injuries. So if you just got yourself hurt with these injuries that we’re going to mention, perhaps see if you can go to a Melbourne sports podiatry clinic for example.

Achilles Tendonitis

This injury happens when the Achilles tendon is inflamed because of the recurring strains or pressure that are put into the tendon. If you’re the type of athlete who uses his or her foot/feet a lot, you’re more at risk of getting this injury.

If you get this injury, chances are you’re going to suffer from a world of pain in your heels. Not to mention, there’s also the possibility of experiencing bone spurs. If you’re not familiar with bone spurs, it’s what happens when the broken tendon hardens at your bones. 

While Achilles tendonitis sounds scary (because it is), sometimes you don’t have to undergo invasive processes like surgeries to heal your feet. It can be managed through proper resting, ice bag treatment, medications, physical therapy, use of orthotics, and sometimes, even shockwave therapy.

Fractures

These types of injuries are probably one of the most common injuries in the sports world. You’ll know you have trauma or a fracture when you start to feel pain and swelling.

No matter how mild or bearable the pain is, the best thing to do is to consult a podiatrist right away. If you’re one of the unlucky ones with broken bones breaking their skin, it’s a much more complicated injury. Because that only means that even for a split second, your bones are exposed in the air which can cause further complications and infections.

The worst thing about these injuries is that you have to undergo surgeries and a series of rehabilitations, which only means that you won’t be able to play your favourite game for a really long time.

Ankle Sprains

An ankle sprain is not as severe as the first two injuries that we just mentioned. But it’s the most common injury of all time that almost every athlete had at some point in their career. So if you’re seriously considering going pro, this injury is certainly the kind that you have to watch out for.

One of the main causes of ankle sprain is wrong foot landing. We’ve seen it too many times. Especially in sports that require players to run and jump almost every time. If you happen to be that kind of athlete, be careful not to get your ankle sprained. Because once you’ve twisted your ankle, all the pain, tenderness, and swelling will automatically ensue.

Normally, a low-level ankle sprain will just need up to two months for the ankle to heal. But if it’s a third-degree ankle sprain, you might need to undergo surgery. A good example of a third-degree ankle sprain is when the ligament was completely torn when you twisted your ankles. If that happens during a game, make sure to rest your feet, elevate them, and call your sports podiatrist right away.

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The gout attack is unpredictable. It can flare-up at any stage of life, and it affects the joints. The first attack is usually similar across all victims, characterized by sudden excruciating pain in the big toe. After the first attack, gout pains affect people differently.

Some may be lucky never to experience it again, while others experience it after months. The unfortunate may experience regular and persistent attacks, which may become chronic and damage the joints. Since no one can tell how their fate with gout looks, it’s essential to take all possible measures to keep the stabbing pain at bay.

Without further ado, here are six easy tips to keep gout away.

1. Talk to your doctor

It is always advisable to consult with a doctor once you experience your first attack. Sudden and severe joint attacks usually characterize gout. Its pain is often accompanied by redness and swelling of joints commonly at the big toe. The doctors will examine you and give the right medication. Alternatively, you can go for natural nutritional supplements of gout. If you are not aware of the dietary supplements, you can learn more about them by visiting various manufacturers’ sites. The sites will give you more insights from the customer reviews, which will help you select the most effective product. These natural remedies will facilitate your quick healing and help you avoid future attacks.

2. Be mindful of your food intake

According to medical experts, gout attacks are experienced when the urate crystals accumulate on the joints. The urate crystals form when the blood has an excessive concentration of uric acid. The excess uric acid accumulates when the kidneys are unable to filter it due to the high intake of foods rich in uric acid. Such foods include red meat, beer, seafood, dried beans, and some vegetables such as spinach and mushroom. Cut down your intake of the above foods if they are quite high. Instead, maximize your intake of foods like fruits, whole grains and other vegetables. Your doctor can also advise on the right diet for your condition and more so on the right amounts of particular foods.

3. Do regular workouts

The idea is to get rid of the excess weight, which is a major culprit for gout. However, weight loss should be gradual since a sudden weight loss can trigger the flare-up. The progressive weight loss reduces the strain on the joints and the muscles around the affected area.

This reduces the chances of joint pains. Thus, it is essential to enroll in a workout program or exercise classes of some sort. Apart from weight loss, regular exercise will help you develop more stamina and muscle endurance, thus enhancing your physical activity.

4. Stay hydrated

Water is life. It helps eliminate toxic waste from our bodies, including the uric acid through the skin and the kidneys. It also accounts for the largest percentage of the circulatory system in our bodies. Taking the right amount of water will help keep our kidneys healthy and enhance their efficiency in filtering the uric acid.

With lower/ zero levels of uric acid, you would have avoided the detrimental effects of gout and other ailments. If you can’t access water, you can take any other hydrating beverage while avoiding sweetened and alcoholic drinks.

5. Avoid strenuous activities 

If you suffer from frequent and persistent gout attacks, you should keep off from strenuous activities as they may intensify the pain through muscle strain. Instead, engage in light tasks and take frequent breaks. Resting will help to avoid the pressure on the joints, hence preventing them from paining and swelling.

You can incorporate your medications with various home treatments such as ice compresses on the affected area to ease the discomfort. Elevating your affected limb can also reduce the swelling.

6. Avoid OTC drugs

Over the counter drugs may trigger the uric acid levels in the bloodstream to surge. Also, the drugs can interact with gout medications and have adverse health effects. In case you develop other health conditions or minor ailments while surviving with gout, avoid taking any drug unless advised to do so by a doctor. Visit a health facility and explain your situation before the examination.

If possible, communicate your condition before your examination so that the doctor can know the right prescriptions that won’t worsen your condition. They may also change your previously issued medication if it’s not effective.

Keep gout away

Gout is a painful condition that no one wishes to experience. However, the good thing is that you can easily avoid it and manage it too. The above tips can help both the victims and non-victims prevent gout flare-ups. Ensure that you eat healthily, move regularly and maintain a healthy weight, and visit a doctor if you feel any gout signs and symptoms. Observe regular medical check-ups too, to ensure that you are safe.

Photo credits:

• Claudia van Zyl

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