The automobile industry recommends regular oil changes to keep your car running at its peak performance. Chances are that you adhere to the guidelines outlined in your car manual as closely as possible, and probably even have a favorite business nearby that performs the services.
Just like a car, the human body thrives on a tune up from time to time. People may not be born with maintenance and performance manuals, but we ought to follow the advice and guidelines of trusted medical sources. The physical therapists at Symmetry, along with many other members of the Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, would like to see scheduling time with a physical therapist to treat and prevent injuries become as much a part of the average person’s routine as taking their car for an oil change.
Educated and trained in the movement and function of the human body, physical therapists help patients reduce pain, restore function, prevent disability and improve workout performance. Contrary to popular belief, physical therapy movement specialists don’t just want to see you when you’re sidelined with an injury. We’re also available to teach you personalized strategies to prevent injuries and to help you participate more fully in daily activities.
At Symmetry, we frequently educate our patients that because humans are mechanical creatures, we tend to accumulate wear and tear just as other mechanical machines like our cars. One example, to continue the analogy, is to consider how car tires show wear, or sometimes get out of balance because we’ve clipped a curb on turning a time or two, or because we’ve unexpectedly hit a pothole on a dirt road. A single driving maneuver is not often catastrophic or even noticeably damaging to the vehicle. But accumulated over time, multiple small things can cause the efficiency of the car’s function to decline. For people, the daily maneuvers of our chosen jobs, or athletic endeavors, or the many minor mishaps that we sustain over time, like slipping in a puddle, stubbing a toe, or sitting awkwardly through a long plane flight in a cramped seat can accumulate into the gradual decline of our physical function. Maybe our spine and hips get stiff. Or perhaps our upper back muscles get too tight. We might notice an increase in the frequency of headaches, or that walking does not feel smooth unless we pause for a moment on getting up from sitting to stretch our legs a bit. We can’t think of anything terrible has happened to cause us injury. There is no need to assume that we’ve contracted a crazy disease or degenerative condition. We’re likely to simply need a musculoskeletal tune-up. This would be a good time to call a physical therapist and to schedule a visit or two to let him or her help you to get yourself back on track.
The frequency with which it makes sense to see a physical therapist depends on each individual. Certainly an annual checkup would be reasonable, even if you are not aware of any specific musculoskeletal issues. This would allow you to spot any potentially troublesome issues before they create a pain problem. If you have had other recent health or lifestyle changes, it’s also likely to be a good time to check in. Moving, changing jobs, having a baby, or changing your overall activity level to either include significantly more or significantly less activity all are potential triggers of mechanical malfunction. Again, catching glitches before symptoms arise is a good strategy. If you have had a previous injury or illness that intermittently ‘nags’, you may find that you are aware of when your comfort level with activity changes mildly and might benefit from treatment. One example of this type of situation would be a person that tends to have headaches after going to see the dentist, because the position of the neck during a tooth cleaning bothers the arthritic portions of their neck. This person might benefit from several physical therapy visits timed to occur around the same time frame as their dental checkups.
A car is an investment, one that needs to be protected by maintaining it to make sure it performs well on the road. Going regularly to see a physical therapist is one way to protect your biggest investment: your health. Actively protecting your health improves your chances of living a long, active and productive life. If you have questions about your specific health and function, please feel free to call and/or visit Symmetry. We’d be happy to help you to keep your human ‘vehicle’ running well!