When injured, people usually visit a physical therapist to manage pain relief and symptoms. Traditional physical therapy aims to reach functional goals with exercises such as stretching and manual techniques that achieve measurable outcomes.
What if there was a more holistic way of treating injuries?
Traditional Therapies
Traditional therapies aim to reduce pain and restore function following an injury, drawing upon clinical trial evidence or research for treatment options such as using exercise to speed muscle recovery after surgery. Physical therapists commonly employ such techniques and they may even be covered by insurance; this makes traditional therapy attractive as a viable way back into daily life for many patients. A holistic approach may include non-traditional techniques like massage therapy and acupuncture that have just as effective healing abilities while not providing as much scientific backing; the body still responds positively!
Holistic healing refers to an approach that integrates emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing when providing care for a patient. Practitioners of holistic care take all these factors into consideration when treating patients – helping PTs create more comprehensive plans that address root causes of symptoms instead of simply treating symptoms themselves.
Physical Therapists (PTs) can offer invaluable advice and information on holistic lifestyle practices, but it is crucial that they be aware of their limitations as a practitioner. Therefore, when necessary they should always be prepared to refer their patients for further evaluation and treatment if needed – something which becomes especially crucial if someone has chronic conditions like heart disease or diabetes, addiction, or stress issues.
Depending on the nature of their treatment, therapists may rely more heavily on their knowledge of integrative medicine when providing treatment. Therefore, it’s essential for them to keep abreast of new research into holistic treatments as well as being aware when seeking professional guidance would benefit patients.
Acupuncture has been practiced for millennia as a method to relieve pain and restore balance to the body. Acupuncture involves inserting needles at specific points known as acupoints within the body to trigger release of endorphins and serotonin, natural painkillers in your brain. Furthermore, this practice has also been proven to increase blood flow while stimulating nerve endings.
Other holistic therapies include herbal medicine, yoga, meditation and hypnosis – methods which seek to balance mind, body and spirit in patients. All of these practices have proven tremendously useful for improving overall well-being for many patients by alleviating anxiety and depression and decreasing chronic disease risk as well as increasing quality of life.
Nontraditional therapies often cost more than their conventional counterparts and aren’t covered by insurance, making their selection dependent upon personal preferences, beliefs and budget. Patients should carefully understand all risks involved with any holistic treatments before selecting their ideal course of action.
Integrative healthcare, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, refers to an approach that integrates conventional medical treatments with complementary and alternative therapies such as physical therapy (PT). Physical therapists offering this form of care represent a growing trend in health care provision.
