Physical therapy helps you regain your sense of balance, range of motion, coordination, strength and flexibility. Improving your balance can help prevent future falls and help you regain the ability to perform certain tasks, such as walking, on your own without the assistance of devices or another person.
Function
Your health care provider may recommend physical therapy after a serious injury, surgery or a medical condition, such as a stroke. Physical therapy may involve a combination of working on multiple recovery tasks or focus on one specific type of recovery. Depending on the reason why your health care provider has recommended physical therapy, you may take speech therapy, occupational therapy, pain management therapy or physical therapy. Typically, physical therapy is what helps restore your balance.
Significance
Physical therapy helps restore balance so you can begin to live your life as you normally did prior to the injury or medical event occurred. Regaining your balance will help you in practical skills such as walking and standing, and help keep you safe from an accident such as a fall. When your balance is off, it can negatively affect how you stand or walk, which can result in injury. You may even feel dizzy or disoriented when your balance becomes impeded.
Time Frame
Your doctor may recommend a specific amount of time for your physical therapy appointments, at first. Depending on how well your physical therapy goes, she may release you from physical therapy when the specified time frame approaches, or she may recommend a bit more time if you feel that you need it. The length of time you need in therapy may depend upon the extent of the injury, your current medical condition and whether you will be able to live on your own or will require assisted living.
Considerations
Wear comfortable shoes that fit you properly. Wearing the correct shoes can help reduce the risk of falls and other injuries. MayoClinic.com recommends wearing shoes with nonskid soles and avoiding shoes that have extra thick soles. The thick rubber soles may cause you to trip over the soles if you don't lift your foot high enough with every step. If you're a female with wide feet and have trouble finding a shoe wide enough, look for shoes in the men's department, because they often are made wider.
Warning
Do not attempt to perform certain tasks without prior physician approval. If you're unable to perform certain tasks such as showering due to impaired balance, ask for assistance. Follow all physician instructions for your own safety. Performing certain duties before you've received clearance can result in additional injury, which may prolong your recovery time.
