You will be seen by an orthopedist, an expert in treating musculoskeletal issues who also performs surgery. In this article, we will discuss many of these alternatives. Simply relieving symptoms and restoring mobility to allow your body to have the time it needs to heal can be the only steps to remedying many orthopaedic injuries.
The body has great healing potential. When you are injured, the body goes to work releasing agents that signal your body to heal.
These agents, however, also start up an inflammation cascade that can cause pain. If you have an injury, RICE therapy works well to reduce the symptoms of inflammation. RICE stands for:. When used together, these four treatments help decrease swelling and the presence of pain-causing chemicals in the body. Gentle therapy targeting range of motion and strengthening will help you recover. Steady progress is the answer. Most musculoskeletal problems can be solved with physical and RICE therapy.
Provided there is nothing significantly wrong, such as a fracture or torn muscle, you can begin to exercise to restore the general range of motion and experience progressive strengthening soon after your injury. Sometimes, more advanced therapy is needed. While most people think of physical therapy as the follow-up to surgery, a trained therapist can help educate and guide you in your recovery from almost any musculoskeletal issue. In fact, pursuing therapy before an issue has developed to the point of needing surgery is an excellent way to avoid the surgery in the first place.
Therapists, with their advanced education and experience, can help decrease pain and increase mobility and function. Many therapists utilize various tools and techniques to help control inflammation, such as:.
