While we all naturally wish that diagnosis of every possible injury was simple and straightforward, this sadly often is not the case. It can sometimes be difficult to figure out exactly what the cause of your pain is – but this is one area where physical therapists can provide major value.
At ImPackt Physical Therapy, we provide a huge range of physical therapy services to patients around Utah, covering every area of the body – from back injuries to hand, wrist, shoulder, knee, elbow and numerous other injury or pain types. Our physical therapists are experts at utilizing the clues and leads your body gives off to help pinpoint the cause of your pain and develop an effective treatment plan, even if you’re struggling to define this pain. Here are some of the ways we do this, and how the right PT approach will help you get to the bottom of your pain and find solutions.
Physical Evaluation and Tests
When you first visit a physical therapist, they will conduct a thorough evaluation to assess your overall health, mobility, and strength. This includes discussing your medical history, any previous injuries or surgeries, and understanding the specific nature of your pain or injury. Based on this information, they will perform various tests to determine the root cause of your discomfort.
Some common evaluations and tests performed by physical therapists include:
- Range of Motion (ROM) Test: This measures how well you can move your joints in different directions. It may include passive (the therapist moves your joint) and active (you move your joint) movements.
- Strength Test: This assesses the strength of different muscle groups in your body, as well as any imbalances between opposing muscles.
- Functional Movement Screen (FMS): This evaluates how you move during daily activities such as walking, lifting, and reaching. It can help identify any movement patterns that may be contributing to your pain or injury.
- Posture Analysis: Your physical therapist will observe your posture while standing, sitting, and performing different movements. Poor posture can lead to pain and dysfunction in other areas of the body.
- Specialized Tests: Depending on your specific condition, your physical therapist may also perform specialized tests to further assess your injury or pain. These tests can include range of motion, strength, and balance assessments.
Evaluating Clues
Throughout these tests, and even through your basic movements and postures, your physical therapist will be looking for specific clues to help them identify the root cause of your pain or dysfunction. These may include:
- Muscle imbalances: This is when certain muscles are weaker or tighter than others, leading to compensations and strain on other areas of the body.
- Joint restrictions: Limited range of motion in a joint can indicate an underlying issue such as inflammation or injury.
- Postural deviations: As mentioned earlier, poor posture can lead to pain and dysfunction in different areas of the body. Your physical therapist will assess your posture and look for any deviations that may contribute to your symptoms.
- Movement patterns: The way you move can also provide valuable information about potential issues in your body. Your physical therapist will observe how you move and perform certain activities to identify any abnormalities or compensatory patterns.
- Strength and flexibility: Muscle imbalances, weakness, and inflexibility can all contribute to pain and dysfunction. Your physical therapist will assess your strength and flexibility to determine if there are any areas that need improvement.
- Functional tasks: Lastly, your physical therapist may also evaluate your ability to perform everyday functional tasks such as walking, climbing stairs, or lifting objects. This can help identify any areas of weakness or compensation that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Based on the information gathered from these assessments, your physical therapist will develop an individualized treatment plan tailored to address your specific needs and goals.
Treatment
Once your physical therapist has completed the evaluation, they will begin implementing their recommended treatment plan. This may include a combination of hands-on techniques, therapeutic exercises, and education to help you manage your condition and prevent future injury or recurrence.
Some common treatments used by physical therapists include:
- Manual therapy: This involves using hands-on techniques to mobilize joints, massage soft tissues, and manipulate muscles to improve flexibility and reduce pain.
- Therapeutic exercise: Your physical therapist will design a series of exercises specific to your condition and abilities. These exercises can help improve strength, stability, balance, and range of motion.
- Modalities: Physical therapists may also use various modalities, such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and heat or cold therapy to help decrease pain, reduce swelling, and promote healing.
- Education: Your physical therapist will educate you on your condition and how to manage it. This may include proper posture and body mechanics techniques, as well as ways to prevent future injuries.
- Home exercise program: To continue progress outside of therapy sessions, your physical therapist may provide you with a home exercise program tailored to your needs.
At ImPackt Physical Therapy, we’re proud to employ experienced physical therapists who will perform effective evaluations and help you pinpoint and manage your pain. For more on any of our services around Utah, contact our team today!
