An elderly acquaintance who’s having trouble walking (not a patient of ours) recently said that she would refuse to go to physical therapy if her doctor recommended it. Somehow, this octogenarian got it into her mind that physical therapy is a waste of time. This kind of thinking makes all of us at Montgomery Foot Care Specialists hang our heads in disbelief.
As our podiatrists, Dr. Chanda L. Day-Houts and Dr. Heidi M. Christie will tell you, physical therapy is a tried-and-true discipline. During the month of October, which is National Physical Therapy Month, we want to stop and honor the work that physical therapists do in conjunction with podiatrists like us in the river region, and with orthopedists, surgeons, and other doctors all over the country.
Physical therapy’s vision and value
The American Physical Therapy Association adopted their vision statement in 2013:
“Transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience.”
Stop and think about that statement. Physical therapists don’t just make your feet or ankles or back feel better – their work actually improves your life experience. Without healing through physical therapy, people with biomechanical issues of the feet, hips, knees, and legs could be forced to lead a more sedentary life. People recovering from shoulder surgery would be in pain for many more weeks than necessary.
All of the things people are able to do that “improve the human experience” – helping a loved one recover from surgery; sitting comfortably on the sidelines of a child’s Saturday morning soccer game; getting in the car and taking a drive to buy groceries; or just being able to roll out of bed in the morning, pain-free – are greatly improved by the existence of physical therapy.
So, a shout-out to all physical therapists whose work
- strengthens muscles
- increases flexibility and range of motion
- improves balance and prevents falling
- puts bones and muscles back into proper alignment
- diminishes pain and swelling.
We often prescribe physical therapy to patients whose feet can benefit. If you have any doubts about its value, don’t hesitate to ask us. We’d be pleased to talk with you more about it. Call us at our office in Montgomery, Alabama at (334) 396-3668 or contact us online.