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When most people think of physical therapy, they think of where you go when you have pain, an injury, or have had a surgical procedure. This is because most of our medical model is reactive, instead of proactive. Some people seek physical therapy soon after the onset of pain, while others may wait months or even years! I always say that it's easier to put out the newer, and usually smaller "fires" versus those that have been burning for a while, often causing dysfunctional movement compensations with time, and encourage clients to come in for assessment sooner than later. But what if you could prevent the "fire" from ever starting by seeking physical therapy before an injury?
Many people don't know this, but in Georgia you can see a physical therapist without a physician's referral, for 8 visits or 21 days. Via direct access, a physical therapist can identify muscle strength imbalances, mobility limitations, and in the case of runners, running gait abnormalities that might otherwise increase the risk of injury. As a cash-based practice, we have further independence to fully evaluate the movement system outside of the confines of what insurance deems necessary. Once "weak links" have been identified, specific exercises can be prescribed to address them to reduce risk of injury occurrence.
Who might benefit from a movement analysis for preventative PT? Anyone really! Athletes, especially during an off-season, can build strength prior to the competitive season. A runner who is about to embark on a training cycle, i.e. before a marathon training build, could benefit from a Gait Analysis or Resilient Runner package to assess areas for improvement in their running gait, and to design a comprehensive strength training program to address weaknesses and support their training. Someone who is embarking on a new strength training program and looking for guidance on what muscle groups to focus on to meet particular goals and not get hurt in the weight room could also benefit from a preventative assessment.
If you've ever been sidelined from your favorite activities, you know the frustration from missed weeks of training, competition, or participation. Many times, injuries can be mitigated by identifying underlying risk factors and intervening on those that are modifiable. Consider scheduling a physical therapy evaluation to recognize areas for improvement, before an injury occurs!
If you're interested in learning more about how a preventative PT session could help you keep chasing your goals while staying healthy and strong, give us a call!
Thanks for reading,
Dr. Elizabeth Karr PT, DPT
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