Joint injuries are common, they include a sprained ankle, runner’s knee, swimmer’s shoulder, and dislocations. Healing from mild joint injuries can take anywhere from three weeks on the low end to a couple of months for more intense ones. Regardless of how severe your injury is, physical therapy is a vital component to recovering completely, as well as preventing future joint injuries.
What Makes A Joint Injury Different From Any Other Injury?
One of the main differences between a joint injury and other injuries is that joints should be moved when they are healing. Without moving the joint while it heals, you risk the future mobility of the joint. At the same time, while the joint heals, it is susceptible to being reinjured. Especially with dislocations, because the joint is loose, healing requires dedicated amounts of time and extensive consideration daily. Joint injuries can also extend to include the recovery process from surgeries like knee, hip, and shoulder replacements.
How Does Physical Therapy Help Heal Joint Injuries?
Physical therapy consists of a few different components. The first is massage, and the second is exercise. During a massage for joint injuries. Your physiotherapist will manipulate the joint safely in order to promote blood flow and healing to the trauma area. This will maintain mobility and prevent stiffness. The area might be sore or tender, though there should be no sharp pain during the massage. When it comes to exercises, your physiotherapist will come up with a program that keeps the joint moving safely, while building muscle around the joint to strengthen. A combination of these two will also reduce chronic inflammation in the joints by stimulating blood flow within the joint, and reduction in swelling. Your physiotherapist may also use electrode therapy, another great way to reduce inflammation and calm swelling.
When Is The Best Time To See A Physiotherapy Specialist After A Joint Injury?
The answer is to start physiotherapy and move the joint as soon as you can! The earlier you start physiotherapy, the sooner you will heal. Because nothing is broken, the area does not need to be immobilized in order to recover. Don’t push your joints during the recovery process though, uncommon movements should be supervised by a professional.
Experiencing a joint injury or chronic joint pain? Come see the specialists at Core Physical Care and let us help you with your recovery. Don’t hesitate to contact and ask questions, our staff is more than happy to provide you with all the information that you need.
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