EUGENE, Ore.-- As counties in Oregon lift pandemic restrictions, some may notice new aches and pains as they return to a more active lifestyle, and experts say addressing that pain head-on with physical therapy can save you a lot of trouble.

According to Oregon Medical Group physical therapist Ryan Embly, it's not just athletes who need physical therapy. If pain is getting in the way of any of your daily activities from going to bed, to workplace responsibilities and even workouts, then making an appointment can help.The process of overcoming pain and can be a rewarding one.

"It's a huge sense of accomplishment. And it's not just athletes. I can't even tell you how good it feels to just help someone accomplish whatever goal it is. Just being able to get dressed in the morning to get to work," said Embley.

When you walk in the door to your appointment, a physical therapist can help you identify where the pain is coming from and what other muscles and body parts may be contributing to pain.

According to Embly, physical therapists try to begin the healing process by reducing inflammation, increasing range of motion and improving posture, among other actions. While a patient's instinct may be to take it easy when they experience pain, recovery lays in the balance of activity and rest.

"Oftentimes we think of this as, 'I don't want to do too much. I don't want to aggravate my pain.' Sometimes actually doing too little can be just as detrimental," said Embly.

From diagnosis to recovery, Embly said that engaging patients with manual therapy and a hands-on approach can help them reach their goals.

See original here:
Healthy Living: Stop pain early with physical therapy - KEZI TV