The Power of Movement: How Physical Therapy Can Redefine Health

Nowadays, it’s very easy to take your physical health for granted until you’re faced with the limitations of pain, injury, or reduced mobility. Fortunately, there’s a powerful healthcare discipline that implements different strategies and methods to help you regain control of your body and redefine your health – physical therapy.

This often overlooked and underrated medical treatment option offers a wide range of benefits that extend far beyond recovery from injury. In this blog post, we’ll explore how physical therapy can improve your life and help you achieve a healthier, more active lifestyle, especially when used in combination with Pilates-based movement therapy.

7 Ways Physical Therapy Can Improve Your Life

Here are seven ways in which physical therapy can positively impact your health and well-being.

1. Helps Alleviate Pain by Correcting Alignment and Movement

While pain medication may offer temporary relief, physical therapy provides a long-lasting solution for pain management as it addresses the root causes of pain. Through a combination of optimal movement-based exercises and manual therapy (e.g., soft tissue mobilization, shockwave therapy), Pilates-based physical therapy can help you manage pain, reduce inflammation, and improve overall comfort and quality of life.

2. Improves Mobility and Balance

Often taken for granted, mobility and balance are essential parts of daily life, allowing us to perform everyday activities with ease and confidence. However, various factors, such as injury, aging, or certain medical conditions, can compromise these abilities. 

To begin with, a physical therapist will assess your range of motion, muscle strength, joint stability, coordination and functional ability, diagnose the underlying issue, and then employ various treatments to help alleviate your specific complaint. By utilizing the Pilates method which focuses on proper alignment, movement and strength, a movement-based physical therapist, such as those at Nexus, can help you regain lost mobility and balance, as well as maintain these two essential functions. 

The initial assessment also equips them with the knowledge to design customized exercise programs that target specific muscle groups and movements (e.g., a combination of strengthening exercises, stretching routines, and balance drills) to help you regain the confidence to move without fear of falling or injury. 

3. Prevents Future Falls and Fall-Related Injuries

Physical therapy goes beyond treating existing conditions; it also helps in preventing falls and fall-related injuries, especially among athletes and older adults. These incidents can lead to severe consequences, including fractures, head injuries, and a loss of independence. 

By assessing your physical condition (including strength, flexibility, balance, and gait) and identifying environmental factors that may increase your risk of falls, a Pilates-based physical therapist can develop customized exercises and activities focused on strengthening the muscles responsible for postural stability and coordination. These wellness exercises can help you regain stability and over time reduce the likelihood of falls and injuries.

4. Reduces the Need for Surgery

In some cases, physical therapy can be a viable alternative to surgery or even help prepare you for a surgical procedure. When the purpose of the surgery is to eliminate chronic pain, opting for non-invasive treatments such as physical therapy can be a very effective alternative instead. 

Through targeted optimal movement exercises and modalities such as shockwave therapy, or electrical stimulation, physical therapy can strengthen the affected area, improve blood flow, and reduce pain and discomfort, potentially reducing the need for invasive surgical interventions.

However, surgery is sometimes necessary and even life-saving, and it often comes with lengthy recovery periods and potential complications. In this case, Pilates-based physical therapy is essential for physical rehabilitation and recovery as it helps you regain strength, motion, and function, ensuring that you return to your normal activities quickly.

5. Protects Against Chronic Conditions

Chronic conditions often require lifelong management, and their impact on daily life can be substantial. However, physical therapy can help in the prevention and management of chronic conditions (such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, cerebral palsy, and more) through proper movement patterns, improving mobility and even reducing pain.

Since physical inactivity is a significant risk factor for these chronic conditions, a physical therapist will prescribe regular exercise and movement programs that will  improve blood circulation or exercises that help control blood sugar levels, which can help you maintain a healthier lifestyle.

Certain chronic conditions come with a significant burden of pain and discomfort. A physical therapist, such as those at Nexus Studio, can provide effective pain management techniques that help improve the well-being and quality of life of individuals living with these conditions.

6. Promotes Mental Health

From demanding work schedules to personal responsibilities and daily hassles, stress can take a toll on both our physical and mental well-being. However, what many people don’t realize is that, beyond its role in addressing physical ailments, the Pilates method  can be a powerful tool for stress management.

Pilates-based physical therapy places exercise at the forefront of its treatment plans. Engaging in regular physical activity can promote mental well-being by helping your brain release endorphins, often referred to as ‘feel-good’ hormones. Exercise has been shown to reduce stress, alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, and boost overall mood, leading to a more fulfilling life.

7. Boosts Energy Levels

Fatigue and low energy may become common complaints, especially if you’re struggling with the demands of a busy lifestyle or dealing with the effects of a chronic health condition. Weak muscles and poor posture can also contribute to feelings of tiredness and a lack of energy.

Pilates-based treatment plans can leave you feeling more energetic and enthusiastic by enhancing your muscle strength, body’s posture, and movement mechanics. It helps you to perform daily tasks more easily, experience less fatigue, and have more energy for activities you enjoy.

Contact Our Team at Nexus for an Appointment

At Nexus Studio, our unique approach to physical therapy utilizes the Pilates method to prioritize proper alignment and movement. Recognizing the diverse nature of health conditions, we customize each treatment plan to accommodate individual needs and goals. 

Whether you’re suffering from chronic back pain, recovering from a sports injury/surgery, or managing the aches and pains of aging, our skilled Pilates-based physical therapists can develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your abilities and needs.

Get in touch with our physical therapy team at Nexus today to start your wellness journey.