Making Certain You Get the Right Treatment
Often, when you have suffered physical injury, you’ll find both physical therapy and rehabilitation (“rehab”) among the treatment options. It’s not uncommon for the terms to actually get used interchangeably. Are they the same thing? If not, how do they differ?
If you think about the word “rehabilitate,” it’s clear that it involves a return to a prior condition. On the other hand, the term “physical therapy” is broader, suggesting an approach to overall health, rather than healing from an injury. Both, however, may be appropriate when you’ve been hurt.
What Is Rehab?
As a general rule, rehabilitation can involve any comprehensive type of treatment program geared at getting you back to a prior state of health or function. You might engage in rehab to regain muscle strength, range of motion or flexibility after injury to tendons, ligaments and other connective tissue. You may use rehab to re-learn basic motor skills after a stroke, or to learn new ways of performing tasks, if necessary.
A rehab regimen often involves a wide range of modalities, including occupational therapy, emotional counseling and perhaps even a psychological evaluation. You may work with physicians, nurses, speech therapists and others.
What Is Physical Therapy?
In essence, physical therapy is one of the tools available as a part of a rehab program. In a physical therapy approach, you’ll work with professionals to focus exclusively on your physical health, working to strengthen muscles and increase flexibility. The treatment has multiple goals—the recovery from a prior accident and/or prevention of health challenges in the future. As a general rule, physical therapy takes a targeted approach, focusing on areas of your body that need to be stronger or have greater range of motion. The exercises you learn and perform will typically be designed to build strength, enhance motor skills and minimize pain.
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Take the first step to wellness. Call Advantage Healthcare Systems today at 1-877-487-8289 or complete the form below to set up your first assessment. We have offices conveniently located in Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio.