It’s true, you know; your body is a healing machine. I’ve been telling my children this since they were toddlers. Everytime they hurt themselves, I’d say, “It’s OK honey. I know it hurts now, but you’re going to be fine. Remember why?” And through their stifled tears they’d say in their tiny voice, “My body’s a healing machine.” It was adorable. Oh, the funny things we teach our children!
All kidding aside though, I had a goal in mind; I wanted to instill in them a trust in their body. And I want you to trust in yours too.
Let’s start here: Most injuries we incur can heal by themselves. Let’s look at an ankle sprain as an example. When you turn your ankle, if you do it with enough force, tearing occurs of the ligaments that hold two of your ankle bones close together. Once torn, some of the ligament cells die, causing the body to initiate inflammation. The inflammatory process is a cascade of events similar to a construction zone.
A myriad of different cells are called to the injury site at various times to perform their specialized jobs. Some cells are the clean-up crew, some bring the building blocks of healing, some build scaffolding.
Of course, all of this happens without the assistance of a physical therapist. So, if the body heals itself, why do we need the help of a physical therapist?
It’s basically the same reason a tomato plant needs a gardener. In both situations, the optimal conditions are managed by a skilled individual who helps ensure the best possible outcome.
To ensure the healthiest, most flavorful tomatoes, the gardener amends the soil, weeds, waters, and prunes.
To help return the body to its pain-free state, a physical therapist mobilizes tight joints, lengthens and strengthens tight or weak muscles, decreases fear of pain, and educates about posture and movement.
So, don’t worry if you’ve hurt yourself. More than likely, your body has the situation under control, and you’ll be feeling better in no time. But if you’re feeling concerned about your recovery, or the pain and stiffness isn’t resolving, I’m here to help. No matter what stage of recovery, we should see some marked improvements in just 2-3 sessions. Call Essential Physical Therapy at 458-210-2940