Written by Marin Campbell, PT, DPT

If you've heard of physical therapy, or PT, it's most likely as rehab from an injury or a surgery—perhaps using resistance bands to strengthen an injured muscle or having a tight joint stretched after surgery. Or maybe you were in the hospital and a PT stopped by to make sure you could get out of bed and move around safely before you were discharged.

These are certainly classic PT roles, but there is so much more we can help you with!

10 Ways Physical Therapy Can Help You

1. Improve your posture. Do you see yourself slouching in photos? Is your back stiff after working at a computer all day? PT can help you get rid of that neck or back pain and stand up tall again! They might teach you to use trunk muscles correctly, use hands-on techniques to loosen tight areas, or help you stretch out of that hunched-over position.

2. Treat pelvic pain or dysfunction. There are PTs who specialize in treating individuals for pelvic pain and dysfunction (in women and men), urinary incontinence, pre- and postpartum issues, and more. They are often called Women's Health or Pelvic Floor therapists.

3. Help resolve dizziness, vertigo, and post-concussion symptoms. Have you experienced any of these disturbing conditions? Often, these types of symptoms are hard to describe to primary care providers and people end up dealing with them far longer than they could. PTs who treat these injuries are often referred to as Vestibular or Post-Concussion specialists.

4. Get rid of nagging pain from an overuse injury. Tennis elbow, golfer's (in Colorado—climber's) elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, runner's knee, turf toe, and low back or neck pain can all happen after doing a specific movement repetitively. Maybe you work at a computer all day typing and mousing or perhaps your favorite recreational activity requires you to perform the same movement over a long period of time. PT can help reduce your symptoms and train your body to move in a way that won't recreate your problems. If you are an athlete, consider finding a therapist who specializes in your sport.

5. Improve your performance. Are you pain-free but want to rise to the next level in your sport or activity? Are you interested in preventing injury as you spend more time working out? Performance-oriented PTs can help make your golf swing more efficient, deepen your yoga practice, address problem areas for rock climbers, increase your cycling power, prevent injury for Crossfitters, and prepare you for ski season.

6. Manage symptoms and improve function with a neurological condition like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or stroke. Often, these conditions can make you feel like you've been sentenced to a life of increasing discomfort and decreasing ability. PTs can help you maintain as much function as possible for as long as possible and teach you strategies to help manage symptoms like pain, weakness, fatigue, and decreased coordination. We can also support you through lifestyle changes that improve function such as nutrition support, sleep quality, and stress management.

7. "Prehab" for an upcoming surgery or better yet—postpone or eliminate the need for a procedure. If you have a surgery scheduled, consider visiting a PT who can assist you in preparing for surgery by guiding you through safe strengthening and educating you on what to expect during recovery. Often, this can be accomplished in just a few visits.

8. Improve the flexibility of scar tissue after an injury or surgery. Many PTs specialize in hands-on techniques that can improve the mobility of your tissue after scarring. Once an incision or wound has healed, specific massage methods can give you back some of the flexibility that is lost when less-mobile scars replace normal tissue. Procedures that often result in scarring that limits motion and function include mastectomies, knee surgeries, c-sections, spine surgeries, breast augmentation or reconstruction, and many more.

9. Resolve pain and stiffness after a car accident or other whiplash injury. Research shows that massage and stretching alone is often not enough to resolve ongoing pain. Your nervous system may be stuck in a protective pattern of "fight or flight" after a traumatic injury that leads to lingering symptoms. A PT can help you to retrain your nervous system and regain the pain-free movement you've lost.

10. Improve your balance after a fall or even better, before one! PT is often prescribed after the fact to help someone recover from an injury they sustained because of a fall. But if you're feeling unsteady or like you've lost some of your agility, reach out to a PT before you fall. Your neuromuscular system can be trained to improve your ability to catch yourself if you lose your balance and prevent an injury.

Physical therapy can help you reduce pain, get back to doing what you love, and help you perform at your peak ability. Check out our list of holistic PTs in the Denver area, available to help you virtually or in-person.