Have you recently sustained a sports or other type of injury? According to the National Center for Health Statistics, over five million people experience a sports-related injury in the United States every year. Furthermore, musculoskeletal injuries often persist for longer than three months. On an annual basis, this is the case with 50% of the adults that sustain these types of injuries. Given the prevalence of these injuries, medical health professionals will usually recommend a variety of treatment options.
When someone experiences chronic knee pain after sustaining an injury, for example, their physician may recommend physical therapy. This may also be the case for other types of pain or injuries, such as those to the hips or lower back. Many people in the United States experience low-back pain, and it is believed that as many as 31 million Americans are suffering with this type of pain at any given time.
While there may be a variety of issues that are causing this low-back pain, a physician may recommend physical therapy in conjunction with other treatments. In some instances, this low-back pain could be due to postural or other issues that may be addressed with physical therapy.
You may be interested to know the results of a recent study on low-back pain. According to this study, the total medical costs were actually lower when patients sought physical therapy early on. These costs were determined to be $2,736.23 lower for patients that did not postpone seeking treatment for their condition.
There may be other underlying issues that are causing pain and mobility issues. One of these is osteoarthritis, which is the most common type of arthritis. It is also referred to as degenerative join disease, and usually occurs in the hands, hips, and knees.
If you’re experiencing joint or other types of pain, it’s important to consult with a medical professional. They will be able to evaluate your situation and determine the best possible treatment protocol for you. Even though physical therapy exercises may be recommended, be sure to address this issue with your physician directly.
