Richa Madaan

Author
Richa Madaan

Orthopedic Healing – When Physical Therapy Meets Mental Fortitude

  Mar 18, 2024

HEaling

When we think of physical therapy following an orthopedic injury, we naturally associate it with the physical aspect of recovery. Let’s say, stronger bodies, stronger muscles, greater flexibility, and enhanced mobility.

Some may offer words of encouragement that it will get better afterward. But, no one shed light on the challenging part of an injury.

In this context, we are talking about Orthopedic healing. It is regarded as a complex recovery process that involves physical therapy and mental fortitude.

To embrace a cure, a well-equipped Orthopedic Physical Therapy Facility takes responsibility for recovery and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions.

Physical therapy does more than just eliminate pain. It may have profound psychological benefits.

In this blog post, you’ll get to see everything about physical therapy, common Orthopedic injuries, mental fortitude’s role, tips for speedy recovery, and when it’s the right time to seek professional help.

What Are Common Orthopedic Injuries?

It includes any injury to the musculoskeletal system. Often, they may relate to bones and joints. Here are common ones:

  • Dislocations
  • Fractures
  • Breaks
  • Hernia (Sports Hernia)
  • Impingement
  • Overuse Injuries
  • Sprains
  • Carpal tunnel
  • Tennis elbow
  • Rotator cuff tear

What is Physical Therapy?

Physiotherapy or physical therapy are the same. It consists of personalized exercise regimes to treat abnormal physical functions. In addition, it improves your overall physical abilities and fitness.

What are the Benefits of Physical Therapy for Orthopedic Injuries?

The following benefits of physical therapy may depend on the reason for treatment:

  • Bypassing Surgery: Surgery is considered as the last option to heal an individual. But, physiotherapy eliminates pain or heals an injury. 

Do You Know?:
The reports from the latest studies demonstrated that in the US itself, there are approximately 6.8 million cases of broken bones every year.

Of course, surgery is needed if the situation is out of hand but to some extent or in some cases, it helps patients recover faster.

  • Better Mobility and Movement: Stretching and strengthening exercises help restore the ability to move. 
  • Pain Management: Therapeutic exercises aim to restore muscle and joint functioning, which eventually prevent pain.

Despite these major benefits of PT, there are some other perks like reducing the need for prescription drugs, recovering from injury, fall prevention, managing heart or lung disease, etc. 

Meanwhile, when you are backed by physical therapists at an Orthopedic Physical Therapy Facility, you can ensure an effective recovery journey. 

What are the Different Types of Physical Therapy?

Physical Therapyy

Well, it’s difficult to provide an exact number, there might be dozens of types, but we have penned 5 of them below:

  • Orthopedic PT: It focuses on musculoskeletal injuries and conditions like fractures, sprains, etc.
  • Neurological PT: This deals with neurological disorders. For example, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, etc. 
Therapy services

Statistics:
In the year of 2022, the U.S. physical therapy services market was valued at USD 44.8 billion. And, from 2023 to 2030, it is predicted to expand at a CAGR of 3.56%.

  • Flexibility Training: It improves joint range of motion and enhances the ability to move freely. 
  • Musculoskeletal Therapy: Target specific muscle groups, tendons, and ligaments. It results in great strength, stability, and functionality. 
  • Vestibular and Balance Therapy: Addresses dizziness, vertigo, and balance disorders. 

How Does Mental Fortitude Play a Role in Orthopedic Healing?

Change is hard, especially after an injury. Mental fortitude in orthopedic healing plays an influential part. Let’s see how it influences mind-body connection, pain management strategies, and emotional resilience during recovery.

What is the Mind-Body Connection in Healing?

To put it simply, it’s a link between thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, and physical health. It is regarded as an indispensable component of holistic medicine –  a healthcare philosophy that seeks to treat the whole person, not just their symptoms.

The science behind it says that the hormones and neurotransmitters linked with emotion can also have physical effects. It may end up resulting in erratic blood pressure, heart rate, sleep patterns, and even appetite.

How Can Mental Fortitude Help with Pain Management?

Believed by most scientists that there is a strong mind-body connection that can affect healing. There is a debate going on the other hand concerning how? To address that, severe trauma or mental toll encourages negative thoughts.

And, when someone is surrounded by negative thoughts, they may encounter continuous stress, depression, and anxiety that add to mental pain along with physical pain. This makes the situation even worse and slows down recovery. 

A clear sense of the interconnectedness of mental strength and pain management encourages sustainable well-being.

What are Some Mental Strategies for Coping with Orthopedic Injuries?

Everyone deserves a good comeback. So, to get out of battling thoughts and ensure you return at full strength, here are some mental strategies to deal with orthopedic injuries:

  • Visualize a Healthy You: Don’t underestimate the power of visualization. Picture a healthy version of yourself.

Fast Fact:
Studies show that when you visualize an action and perform that action, you stimulate the same regions in your brain.

  • Resilience-Building Techniques: Cultivate a mindset to overcome challenges and setbacks.
  • Take Control: Injuries can make you feel powerless. Take control, make conscious choices, and push hard when it feels right. 

What are Some Tips for Speeding Up Orthopedic Healing?

How can you heal faster? Read on to find the answer to this question:

What are Some Dietary Changes That Can Aid in Healing?

Your bone needs to rebuild, a healthy, well-balanced diet rich in key nutrients can do the magic. Take note, it is good to get the nutrition you need from your plate, not from a pill. See how:

  • Iron Intake: Iron deficiency or low red blood cells supports relatively slow healing. For that include red meat, dark-meat chicken or turkey, oily fish, eggs, dried fruits, leafy green veggies, etc. in your diet. 
  • Nutrients: Regular intake of vitamin C, calcium, and protein bolsters bone health and tissue repair.
Dietary Changes
  • Anti-inflammatory Foods: They reduce joint inflammation and speed up healing. Berries, nuts, and fatty fish are some examples.

What are Some Exercises That Can Help with Healing?

To alleviate discomfort and get back into the swing of things, it is equally noteworthy to remain active without compromising comfort level. Here are some exercises that shouldn’t go unnoticed:

  • Low-impact cardio workouts are well-suited to enhance cardiovascular health by being gentle on joints.
  • Swimming, cycling, and walking are examples of endurance-building activities. Therefore, it increases stamina and is perfect for one with chronic joint pain or arthritis.
  • Flexibility training inclusive of yoga or Pilates maintains joint mobility.

How Can Rest and Relaxation Contribute to Healing?

“Appropriate rest can be a catalyst to achieving these results. If you are an athlete, this is a metric you should definitely be tracking to perform your best”, said John DeLucchi, Physical Therapy Manager for Ortho Carolina Mooresville.

Enough rest is mandatory. The first reason relates to blood flow, and, secondly, hormones play a role too. 

Relaxation contributes to repairing and rebuilding strength. For that, simply practice deep breathing, mindfulness, or gentle stretching.

When Should You Seek Professional Help for Orthopedic Healing?

In case of persistent, recurrent, worsening, or unresponsive treatment, it is advised to seek professional help. Any time you experience pain in a repetitive activity is a sign that you should call for expert advice. 

Else, nerve-related symptoms like numbness, tingling, or a “pins and needles” sensation demand medical attention from a specialist.




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