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sponsored by Kohl's.

Do You Need Physical Therapy? Physical therapists provide help for rehabilitating any part of the body, and they can treat everyone from infants to the elderly. Some of the most common reasons people seek physical therapy include: Back pain Neck pain Shoulder, arm or hand problems – including carpal tunnel syndrome Arthritis Rehabilitation after serious injury – including work, auto and sports injuries Amputations Sprains or muscle strains Fractures Burns Osteoporosis Knee, ankle or foot problems Posture problems – including scoliosis Newborn or infant disabilities Heart or stroke rehabilitation

Many Americans suffer from neck or back pain or encounter any number of conditions that prevent them from participating in normal activities at some point in their lives. Whether it's a muscle strain caused by running or you've been diagnosed with arthritis, physical therapy may help you get on the road to recovery.

What Is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy encompasses the treatment, healing and prevention of injuries and disabilities. Physical therapists are experts in movement and function. They develop individualized treatment programs to help prevent injury from occurring or to slow the progression of conditions that result from injury, disease and other causes.

Physical therapists can help you improve the use of bones, muscles, joints and nerves through massage, exercise, light, heat, electrical stimulation, hydrotherapy, ultrasound, magnetic fields and more. They can offer advice on proper posture and body motion in the workplace, treating injuries, keeping fit and administering physical therapy in the home.

What to Expect from Physical Therapy
Each individual is different, so each physical therapy experience and program is unique. The first step is to undergo an evaluation during which the physical therapist does an assessment of your posture, gait, range of motion, strength, reflexes and more, depending on the injury or condition. This will help the therapist monitor and evaluate your progress throughout treatment.

• Pain relief
• Strength and flexibility training
• Proper postural alignment
• Regaining movement or range of motion
• Balance and coordination training
• Relaxation and stress relief techniques
• And more

Your therapist may also design an appropriate home exercise program for you and teach you pain-relief methods and preventive measures you can follow at home or work based on your diagnosis. There is no standard timetable for finishing physical therapy. It all depends on the individual and his or her condition.

A Treatment Alternative
More people are undergoing physical therapy as an alternative to surgery or medication, or they're using it as a first step in treatment in hopes of avoiding those options. If you think you could be a candidate for physical therapy, speak to your physician.