Why Physical Therapy Should Be Part of Your Annual Check-Up

According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) every individual should pay an annual visit to a physical therapist along with making an annual visit to a physician for a complete physical check-up. Recent discoveries have pointed to the fact that physical therapy provides a holistic approach to overall health and wellness.

The APTA recently cited an increase in physical inactivity and its consequences of developing obesity, chronic diseases, and other illnesses.

The American Heart Association also recommends physical therapy for patients at risk of developing heart disease and as a preventative measure against heart disease.

The House recently expressed the fact that physical therapy can reverse the increased percentage of physical inactivity in individuals by establishing customized health and wellness programs that will help individuals maintain fitness for life.

The New England Journal of Medicine also recently released benefits physical therapy has on reversing certain common back conditions with non-surgical treatment

Benefits of Annual Physical Therapy Check-Up

Physical therapy should be part of your annual check-up. A licensed physical therapist will closely examine nerve, muscle, skeletal, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems through a holistic approach.

• Personalized Program: The physical therapist will also go through your personal health concerns and then work with you on a personalized program so you can actually do something about these concerns.

• Follow Up: In addition to putting together a personalized program a physical therapist will help you to follow through with the program by putting together a year-long plan during your annual check-up. Throughout the course of the year the physical therapist will help you to stick with the plan and make any necessary modifications in physical therapy requirements if you experience a change in your health status during the course of the year.

• Prevent Serious Health Issues: If you schedule an annual check-up with your physical therapist you will receive an annual plan to help improve your health so you have a higher potential to live longer without any serious health issues transpiring.

• Low Cost Solution to Rising Health Care Costs: According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, a research study showed that Americans may be spending money unnecessarily for treatments depending upon the health condition. Physical therapists can offer a personalized treatment plan and education for health and well being to provide an effective holistic alternative while reducing the costs of health care for the patient.

• Reverse the Aging Process: A regular yearly plan with your physical therapist can help you to reverse the aging process. Studies have shown that a regular training program reverses aging at the cellular level. A physical therapist can ensure that you stay with the program and maintain the proper diet and exercise which helps to slow the aging process.

More often than not, most individuals get too busy or they are simply too tired to take care of their health. Often when you come home from work you are too tired so you eat some fast food and then flop down on the couch for the rest of the evening. If you set up a year-long plan with a physical therapist you will avoid some of the health problems that will develop as a result of living a fast-paced and stressful lifestyle. You will also be more likely to stick with the regimen if you have a physical therapist to guide you on a regular basis.