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ARCHBOLD.ORG •
SPRING 2015
11
PHYSICAL THERAPY
It does
a body good
THE HUMAN
body is made for
motion. But what if an injury or medical
condition brings some part of your body
to a standstill? One solution might be
physical therapy.
Physical therapy is a field of health
care that helps people regain lost
mobility. The licensed professionals who
provide it are called physical therapists,
and their extensive knowledge of anat-
omy enables them to treat conditions
that compromise motion, balance and
flexibility.
To do that, physical therapists call on a
wide range of interventions, for example,
therapeutic or aquatic exercise, massage,
biofeedback, electrotherapy, low-level
laser therapy, and ultrasound.
Physical therapists often work closely
with doctors to create treatment plans
and track patient progress.
Some physical therapy is inpatient
treatment—for example, for rehabilitation
after a stroke. However, physical therapy
is also offered on an outpatient basis, in
clinics, private offices and hospitals.
Physical therapists might also apply
kinesiology tape to patients,
said Jami
Stephenson, director of outpatient
rehab at Archbold Memorial Hospital
.
“It is applied along muscles, ligaments
and tendons (soft tissue) to provide
external support that helps you remain
active while recovering from injuries.
Kinesiology tape is lightweight and
comfortable to wear and can be used
for hundreds of common injuries such
as lower back pain, knee pain, shin
splints, carpal tunnel syndrome and
tennis elbow.”
How could it help me?
“You might seek physical therapy to help
relieve pain or prevent injury so you can
stay active,” Stephenson said. “In some
cases, having therapy might help you
avoid surgery.”
Among the many things physical
therapists can help with are b
ack, knee
and shoulder pain; arthritis; bladder
control; carpal tunnel syndrome; diabetes;
fractures, sprains and strains; headaches;
osteoporosis; overuse injuries; and vertigo.
“If pain or a medical condition is
affecting how you move through life,
ask your doctor about physical therapy,”
Stephenson recommended. “It might
help restore the motion you’ve been
missing.”
To learn about physical therapy at Archbold Memorial
Hospital, visit
www.archbold.org.
Foreground: Jami Stephenson, OTR/L, CHT, director of Archbold’s
Outpatient Rehabilitation program.
Background: Physical therapist Kerri Kelley works with a patient to
help restore motion and relieve pain.