Physical therapy equipment helps promote the recovery process. The tools play an essential role in maintaining overall health and improving movement. When recovering from injury or surgery, it is essential to rest and allow yourself some time to heal. Once you’ve healed, it would help if you adopt a physical and fitness therapy program. Here are some of the equipment that can aid recovery.
1. Exercise Balls
Exercise balls are among the most popular physical therapy tools that provide the most benefit. They are large inflatable balls used for a variety of challenging exercises. It is made up of durable materials to withstand a lot of weight and is also available in different sizes. Learning to sit on the ball may take some time, but once you’ve mastered how to balance, it will provide you with the needed comfort. Exercise balls provide support, allowing the user to train and isolate specific body muscles. The balls are great for strengthening and stretching the muscle. They also prevent back pain and improve posture.
2. Resistance Bands
Resistant bands are great for physical therapy. They help rehabilitate injuries and strengthen your joints. As the name suggests, the bands work by providing natural resistance, which helps regulate movement. They help stabilize tissues holding your joints in place and muscle. Persons can use resistance bands in any other position that provides comfort. Not only are they useful for physical therapy, but they are also suitable for general fitness and strength training. Resistance bands can help the patient perform various exercises and reduce their injury chances.
3. Bracing
Bracing gives you the needed support on unstable joints due to injury. They help rehabilitate joints that have become uneven. It is important to choose the right brace to ensure proper joint alignment and support an injured area. Braces help gently regulate the range of movements in unstable joints. Finding the right brace that correctly fits can benefit you the most. For example, if you have a foot drop, an afo brace helps improve walking by preventing your toes from dragging.
4. Stretching Straps
You may think stretching every day is only for professional dancers or athletes. But it would help if you did not overlook regular stretching. If you experience muscle pain regularly, you should get a stretching strap. Stretching straps are great for reducing muscle tension. One of the reasons you may be suffering from muscle pain is poor posture, especially if you have a desk job. Stretching straps will help you stretch the lower back, chest, and shoulders muscles, keeping your spine comfortable and improving overall posture. Stretching straps also help control the movement of your limbs. They are also relatively cheap but very effective.
5. Form Rollers
You can use a form roller to reduce muscle pain. They come in a wide range of shapes and sizes at a low price. If you are experiencing lower back pain, form rollers are one of the most effective tools. Form rolling may also help you increase your range of motion which is important for flexibility and performance. However, it would help if you took care when using a form roller on the back because you may injure your back further. When using your form roller for lower back pain, ensure it is vertical and aligned with your spine. Slowly roll the roller from side to side while in line with your spine. The process opposes keeping it horizontal, causing you to strain or arch your back.
6. Overhead Pulley
You may have difficulty using your arm for basic tasks if you have shoulder pain. While treatments like ultrasounds may help, exercising can be the most effective method to recover from shoulder pain. Overhead pulleys are a common physical therapy tool for people with shoulder pain. An overhead pulley will help stretch your shoulder in various directions to improve movement and general function. It would be best if you hooked it over your door. Then, with a small pulley system near the top, form a rope with handles that hang down from the pulley. An overhead pulley may be just the tool to relieve your shoulder pain and feel normal again.
Closing Thoughts
Physical therapy can significantly improve healing for a patient. The tools can help speed recovery after surgery or treating a disorder or an injury. Physical therapy tools may be what you need to get moving again. Choose equipment that makes it fun for you to participate in therapy.
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