Physical Therapy Keeps Muscles and Joints Balanced and Flexible As You Age

As much as we may not like it, as we age, we lose muscle, and our bodies begin to show signs of wear-and-tear. If you live long enough, you’ll probably develop some degree of osteoarthritis, the type of arthritis that results from wearing down joint cartilage from extended use. You don’t have to be limited by loss of muscle and range of motion, though. And you don’t have to take drugs with undesirable side effects, either. At Tula Physical Therapy & Wellness, our team often recommends patients consider physical therapy as a method of maintaining muscle strength, balance, and joint health.

Common misconceptions about PT

You may imagine that physical therapy is mainly for people who are recovering from an injury or who’ve had surgery. In fact, PT can be useful for almost everyone. Whether you have a nagging pain that won’t go away, you can’t do your favorite kind of exercise, or you’ve noticed that you’re losing range of motion, physical therapy could well be the best solution for you. You may also think that physical therapy is painful. That’s not true. At at Tula, we work with you very closely to achieve the end goal, which is less pain, not more. Just as working out may cause some muscle soreness when you first begin a new routine, physical therapy could bring about some discomfort. However, as you gain strength, balance, and flexibility, you’re going to feel better.

Completely individualized

Your body is unique, and your physical therapy needs are as well. Perhaps you haven’t lost strength, but your balance needs to improve, or maybe you have some arthritis and need to strengthen the structures around your joint. Our therapists work with you individually to discover what benefits you the most and helps you reach your goals. A few of the modalities we use include:

Therapeutic Exercise
Neuromuscular Re-Education
Massage
Trigger Point Massage
Tai Chi
Yoga
Pilates Just as the specific movements, exercises, and therapies are chosen in order to help you, the number of your sessions depends on the goal you’re trying to achieve. You may need just a few sessions to master some specific exercises, or you may need a progressive therapy schedule that lasts several months or longer. It’s important to remember that physical therapy isn’t a quick fix. A single session is unlikely to yield lasting results, although it could. Most often, it takes time to build strength and heal.
Lasting results

One of the best things about physical therapy is that there’s education to go along with treatment. We help you learn how to perform certain movements and exercises, teach you about ergonomics and proper posture, and explain what you need to do to protect your joints and physical function. We offer telehealth appointments, as well, so you can continue PT even if you don’t have time to come to our office. If you’d like to learn more about how physical therapy can help you maintain strength and mobility, contact us at Tula by booking online, calling us at 212-604-1316, or emailing an inquiry to appointments@tula.nyc.