AUSTIN, TX 512-207-0368
PACE Physical Therapy
  • Home
    • Meet Us
  • Chronic Hip Pain
    • Healthy Hips Formula
  • Pelvic Floor Therapy
    • Pelvic Floor Therapy
    • Pelvic Floor Resources
  • Testimonials
  • Home
    • Meet Us
  • Chronic Hip Pain
    • Healthy Hips Formula
  • Pelvic Floor Therapy
    • Pelvic Floor Therapy
    • Pelvic Floor Resources
  • Testimonials

Why Physical Therapy Plays A Crucial Role In Staying Active

3/27/2018

2 Comments

 
By Dr. Jessica Warnecke PT, DPT, OCS
Picture
How important is staying active? Maybe a question we don’t stop to think about enough…until it’s too late. ​

​We take for granted the fact that getting out of bed each morning, reaching our arms up and out to put on a shirt, and getting in and out of our car are actions that occur with minimal thought processes needed. But each of these acts are very important to our daily routines and our well-being. A strained low back muscle, a sharp pain in your shoulder, or a sprained knee would alter each of those tasks and many others over the course of a day, week, month, or maybe even past a year.

What is Physical Therapy and where does it come into play? Physical Therapy helps people of all ages and activity levels stay mobile and healthy while fighting diseases or recovering from injuries. A physical therapist (PT) is specially trained in treating the body’s neuromuscular skeletal system—essentially the body’s muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and nerve structures. Each structure is constantly interacting with the other structures to make us move and allow us to enjoy each hobby, sport, or trip we want to experience.

Did you know that only 10% of patients seeing their primary care physician due to low back pain are referred to physical therapy? The majority were given pain medication and told to rest. This was from a study looking at data over a 13-year period! Click here to read more info from the study. This is quite unfortunate as the medication itself helps to mask the intensity of pain but doesn’t do anything for helping our structures heal and regain their original functional level. What is even more unfortunate is that a number of recent studies have come out showing that higher level narcotics (think oxycodone and morphine) are actually less effective than over the counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) meds.

So how do we overcome pain AND regain function?

We have to teach our body how to safely move again.

A PT understands how the body is supposed to function and knows the appropriate techniques to assist with that healing process. A combination of manual therapy, strength and mobility exercises, and patient education are vital components utilized to assist in recovery. By maintaining activity, we set ourselves up to better prevent physical injuries, diseases such as diabetes or vascular conditions, and age-related bone or balance loss. Finding a skilled PT that understands the importance of individualized care and takes the time to listen to your needs is an important step in setting yourself up for many more years of healthy living.

What should you do if you’re injured, feel like you’ve lost the ease of performing standard daily movement, or want to prevent disease in the future? Contact a physical therapist!

​If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or call our office at 512-207-0368 to speak with a pain specialist today!

Speak With A PT
2 Comments
Iris Smith link
10/4/2022 03:08:32 am

I appreciate you mentioning that physical therapy aids in keeping people of all ages and levels of activity active and healthy while they battle illnesses or recover from accidents. My granny seems to have been experiencing back discomfort. I'll take her to physical therapy at the hospital so she can receive some relief from her back discomfort.

Reply
Mia Evans link
11/4/2022 12:23:15 am

Thanks for helping me understand that physical therapy professionals are trained well when it comes to our body's neuromuscular skeletal system such as the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and nerve structures. I might need that kind of service for myself this weekend to help me with the stiffness in my shoulder. It started when I stretched too much one morning, or I guess the angle was not right causing the issue.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Meet Your Therapist

    Jessica has been in Austin, TX for the past four years. She grew up in Idaho and attended PT school at Idaho State University. She completed an Orthopaedic Residency and became a Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist in 2016.

    Archives

    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018

    Categories

    All
    Activity
    Back Pain
    Chronic Pain
    Dry Needling
    Exercise
    Fitness
    Knee Pain
    Neck Pain
    Pain
    Pain Relief
    Physical Therapy
    Posture
    Shoulder Pain
    Work

    RSS Feed

Contact Info:
Phone: 512-207-0368
Email: [email protected]
Web: 
https://www.pacept.com


© 2025 PACE Physical Therapy- Your Expert Hip Pain & Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists in Austin, TX and Virtually​
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER:

All information on this website is intended for instruction and informational purposes only. The authors are not responsible for any harm or injury that may result. Significant injury risk is possible if you do not follow due diligence and seek suitable professional advice about your injury. No guarantees of specific results are expressly made or implied on this website
​