Orthopedic physical therapy

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If you’re having orthopedic surgery or if you have an orthopedic injury or condition, it’s important to commit to a program of physical therapy as you recover.

At Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic, our orthopedic physical therapists create personalized treatment plans to improve strength and mobility and restore pain-free function.

Types of orthopedic physical therapy

The types of physical therapy you may need will depend on your condition, your overall health and your physical goals. Typically, orthopedic physical therapy focuses on restoring normal function and movement.

An orthopedic physical therapy program will include:

Education on how to prevent future injuries
Exercises designed to build strength
Gait analysis to detect uneven strides when you walk that can lead to injury
Functional movement to improve your ability to perform daily tasks
Stretches to increase flexibility
Hands-on therapies such as massage, needling or trigger-point release

Conditions treated with orthopedic physical therapy

Anyone with a musculoskeletal condition or injury can benefit from orthopedic physical therapy. This includes orthopedic conditions such as:

Ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, wrist or hand pain
Arthritis
Damaged or torn ligaments, cartilage or muscles
Fractures
Joint replacement surgery
Tendinitis

Orthopedic physical therapy benefits

Working one-on-one with an orthopedic physical therapist can help you heal faster – and stronger – from surgery or other orthopedic condition. Your physical therapist will work with you at any point in your recovery to help restore your strength and mobility.

Your personalized program of stretching, strengthening and functional movement will increase your mobility and reduce your risk of re-injury. The more committed you are to your physical therapy program, the faster you’ll heal and the better your results will be.

Follow your physical therapist’s program as closely as possible. Not doing your exercises regularly will slow your recovery. But doing too much too soon can result in a setback and delay your return to doing the activities you love.