Get on the Road to Recovery from Your Injury with the Three P's

Every year in the United States, millions of people experience injuries from a variety of circumstances, from working to working out. A recent survey from the National Institute of Health Statistics indicated that low-back pain was the most common type of pain experienced within the last 3 months (28.4%), followed by severe headache or migraine pain (16.6%) and neck pain (15.1%). 1In fact, low back pain is the leading cause of disability in the world and affects 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives. 2Additionally, there are many other injuries that can be just as debilitating and require weeks or even months of recovery. 

If you are one of these individuals, you don't have to go through a painful recovery without help. By remembering the "Three P's", you have the chance to get back to your life as you knew it before injury. Here are three things to keep in mind if you are recovering from an injury: 

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can be a crucial component when recovering from injury. Physical therapists are movement specialists that utilize exercise, as well as various other manual techniques and modalities, to help heal the body from pain and injury. A physical therapist will perform an initial evaluation to make sure physical therapy is right for you. They will then help determine the cause of your pain and set up an appropriate treatment plan that is individualized for you and your specific injury or condition.

Personal Training

This is especially useful for individuals who were active prior to their injuries; however, anyone can benefit from one-on-one training. Using a personal trainer is a great way to ease back into a workout routine or develop a new one based on personal needs. For those who did not already have an individualized exercise plan before their injury, this can be a good step in recovering faster, managing chronic pain, and reducing the risk of re-injury or disability. 

Pilates

Pilates is a form of “intelligent” exercise that uses controlled movements to improve flexibility, strength, coordination, and endurance. It often utilizes different pieces of equipment and propsto help the client exercise in a precise manner and allows them to be successful in their movement. Pilates utilizes 5 basic principles to promote body awareness and safe movement practices to ensure correct form during exercises. Because the exercises can be modified to any level, from gentle to difficult, they can be ideal for individuals recovering from injury. Pilates classes can provide these techniques in a group setting, but there are individual lessons available as well for more personalized attention.

If you have questions about any of these services, please be sure to contact a qualified professional who can develop the best routine for you. You may also leave a comment below for more information.

References:

1.     6. National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2012: With Special Feature on Emergency Care. Hyattsville, MD. 2013.

2.     Medline Plus. Back Pain. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/backpain.html. Accessed March 11, 2013.