Regular physician and dental visits are essential for our general health and well-being. However, there may be another checkup that we are overlooking. Will an annual physical therapy checkup bring the same benefits to our health?
In today’s post, we’ll look at the importance of getting an annual physical checkup and what you need to do to prepare for one.
When you add a physical therapy checkup to your yearly healthcare exam, you can expect the following benefits:
Improving your general health.
Lessening risks of injuries.
Helping you live an active life.
Alleviating aches and pains.
Feeling good as you do your day-to-day routine.
Why a Physical Therapy Checkup?
Physical therapists are healthcare professionals educated, trained, and licensed to treat problems with the musculoskeletal system without surgery or medication. The musculoskeletal system is responsible for ensuring our body can do the movements it needs to do.
Also called the “movement system,” the musculoskeletal system is composed of the joints, muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, cartilages, and the nerves that connect all of those body parts. Those are the parts of the body that work to make us move and function.
Since we mover every day – whether it’s for work, for exercising, for competitive sports, or simply living – the musculoskeletal system can get overworked. A routine physical therapy checkup can ensure that these integral parts of the body are always in good working order and not at risk for any injuries.
A checkup with a physical therapist will help you understand how you move your body. This information will also let you know the measures you need to take to prevent any injuries.
Your physical therapist will learn about your daily lifestyle, physical activities, professional career, and other day-to-day movement-related activities. He or she can then give you expert advice on how to take care of your musculoskeletal system best.
Based on the results you’ll get from your physical therapy checkup, physical therapists can recommend treatment programs that can help you maximize your musculoskeletal system as well as prevent any future injuries.
How an Annual Physical Therapy Checkup Can Benefit You
Often, musculoskeletal issues could have been treated and prevented if they were diagnosed earlier in life. With an annual physical therapy check, your physical therapy can check why your joints are stiffening up, your muscles tightening, and why you’re experiencing pain and discomfort.
If your body is not moving correctly, it can lead to a host of health issues such as degenerative joint disease, tendinopathies, osteoarthritis, and more.
A physical therapy checkup can help reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal issues. Getting this service is a good step towards the prevention of musculoskeletal problems.
PT Checkup: A Good Addition to Your Annual Physical
When you go to your annual physical exam, your primary care physician will conduct a list of tests to ensure that your health is in check. Some of these physical tests include a blood pressure check, listening to your heart and breathing, checking your oxygen levels, collecting blood, urine, or stool samples, and looking for possible signs of health complications such as diabetes or high cholesterol.
If you’ve been going to the same primary care physician every year, the data and information gathered from these health examinations are compared to your year to year results. This way, your primary care physician can look at any alarming or suspecting trends are happening in your body.
With a physical therapy checkup added to your annual general health exam, the physical therapist will do a comprehensive review of your personal medical history. He or she will also conduct several tests to check your balance, coordination, and strength. Your physical therapist will also check your whole body coordination – from head to toe.