Physical therapy crucial to regaining full mobility after an injury
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — An injury is something no one wants to deal with. When part of the recovery means working the exact area of the body that is giving you trouble, it can be daunting.
Physical therapists understand that and are there to help.
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“Being in pain is no fun, it’s depressing, it’s annoying,” physical therapist Jared Dowling said. “You can get into a slight cycle of low motivation and ‘I don’t really want to do this today, I’m dealing with the pain, it’ll be okay.'”
Dowling works with patients at Triple Threat Performance in Huntsville. He said while physical therapy can be less than exciting at first, it’s a crucial part of the healing process.
“If you don’t do the physical therapy, many times those tissues that we healed, stitched back together, they get overloaded, and you suffer a re-injury, and you get to start the process all over again,” Dowling said.
Dr. Matt Owen is an orthopedic surgeon with SportsMed. He said a procedure makes up only 50% of the work needed to catapult a patient towards a full recovery. The second half of the process has to happen fast.
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“We’ve got a small window of opportunity after surgery to get the motion back,” Dr. Owen said. “Typically within one or two business days, they start physical therapy.”
If an injury is not too severe, Owen said visits with a physical therapist can mean a patient can avoid the operating room altogether.
“[Physical Therapists] a physician-extender, right there guiding them along and making sure they’re meeting certain goals and making sure they’re not falling behind.” Dr. Owen said.
Paresh Jampala was a high school athlete for hockey and basketball. He has since stopped playing sports, but he said lingering shoulder pain from sports injuries led him to seek help.
“I couldn’t sleep on [one] side of my body. Even if I’m not playing as much sports it hinders everything,” Jampala said. “I realized you can’t do much without full mobility with your shoulder, so I realized it was probably time.”
He began seeing Dowling for physical therapy about a month and a half ago. He said he is already seeing results.
“From week to week to week, I can go further and further, and it’s just like, ‘light at the end of the tunnel.’ I’m finally seeing it, so hopefully, I can go back to 100%,” Jampala said.
Dowling said whether you’re trying to hike a hallway or a hilltop, physical therapy can make all the difference in reaching those goals pain-free.
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