The longer an ache or pain is around, the longer it typically takes to go away. With this in mind, it is important to not wait to see a PT. Yet, for many, the wait and see approach dominates a person’s thoughts and actions for weeks or months. WHY? Would it not be best to get through the ache or pain more quickly? Obviously, the answer is YES, but this is rarely done. In an effort to fuel action over waiting around, hoping it will go away – here is a list of the top 5 reasons to not wait to see a PT.

1. Limiting movement leads to more stiffness. The human body is made for movement and when avoided the only outcome is stiffness. This leads to more discomfort with movement and a vicious cycle. The joints rely on movement to keep them lubricated and loose. Often stiffness leads to pain, so the goal is to keep moving to avoid stiffness. Motion is Lotion.
2. Muscles become deconditioned quickly. In a matter of days, the muscles of the body begin to lose their tolerance for a given activity if not asked to do it. So by avoiding some activity for two or three weeks, that activity then becomes more difficult to do for as long. This could be something as simple as weeding a gardening or walking the dog. That activity that you used to be able to do for an hour is now a struggle at 20 or 30 minutes.
3. Strength and power go away fast. As with #2, the strength and power rapidly fade when a task is not completed for weeks on end. So that ability to squat to lift say a bag of groceries just got all that more difficult by avoiding it for a month.
4. Routines are easily lost. People work so hard to develop and carve out time to exercise. In a matter of two or three weeks of not exercising it then becomes difficult again to get back in that routine. Don’t lose the exercise gains made by stopping the exercise routine due to pain.
5. You don’t have to wait to see a doctor 1^st and you don’t need imaging. Physical therapists are doctors of conservative muscle and joint care. They are able to assess the problem and if necessary refer out for further testing. You can see one straight away for any muscle or joint pain, balance concern, or other activity issue/limitation. It is easier now more than ever to work with a PT to solve your muscle or joint aches or pains.

Don’t delay, get help today. Not sure where to begin?

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