6 Signs That You Need To Go See A Physical Therapist

By fitstoppt 01 May, 2015 Advice, FAQ, Fitness, Health Tips, Physical Therapy, Tips advice, faq, physical therapy, PT

“Just walk it off.” “Give it a couple of days.” “Put some ice on it and take some ibuprofen.”

Do any of these sound familiar? I would one or any combination of these three things is how we treat 90% of our injuries 90% of the time. Fortunately in most cases minor injuries will get better without too much external effort on our part. But what happens when you don’t seem to be improving? How do you know when you should go consult a doctor about an injury? Knowing that early intervention is key to quicker and more complete rehabilitation, when is the time to stop waiting and get help? Today Alan Bluth shares with us 6 signs that your injury is serious enough to warrant additional medical attention.

1. Pain lingers after three or four days of resting and icing
At the onset of any ache or pain , the best plan of attack is to take a few days off from the sport that brought on the injury and spend 20 minutes several times a day (3-4 times) icing the affected area.”The best thing with any injury is to give yourself a few days off,” Bluth explained. “And then get back into your sport to see if your symptoms have gone away or if they’re still occurring. “If you have taken several days of rest and the pain continues to come back, it is time to see a physical therapist.

2. Reoccurring dull pain
Pain often subsides with rest and icing, but with more-serious injuries symptoms will repeatedly come back and linger until the underlying injury has been addressed.

3. Traumatic onset
Some injuries such as muscle tears and broken bones are easy to spot, as they are brought on by one traumatic event. “From rolling your ankle playing basketball to car accidents, if you pinpoint the exact date and time of your injury you’re going to want to come in and get it checked out,” said Bluth.

4. Meds don’t control pain
Many athletes are used to dealing with aches and pains. “It comes with the territory of being a endurance athlete,” Bluth admitted. “However, if over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain relief drugs aren’t offering any reprieve, you need to go get it checked out.”

5. Pain is acute and sharp
Dull, lingering pain is most likely treatable with rest and ice. But if the pain is sharp and localized, this can be an indication of a more serious injury, such as a pulled muscle or a stress fracture.

6. Noticeable or visible changes
You know your body better than anyone else. Visible changes can include swelling, bruising, and other discoloration. Other changes can include feelings of weakness, numbness and tingling, feelings of “hot / cold” sensations and, of course, pain. “If at the end of a day of training you notice your ankle is swollen, or if you can’t pull with your left arm as well as you can with your right when swimming, it’s likely that you’re going to cause an injury to get worse,” says Bluth. “It’s best to go get these changes checked out immediately.”

When you do get injured, who is the best healthcare provider to go see? The answer may surprise you! From saving money to feeling better quicker, check out these 10 reasons why you should call your physical therapist before your other healthcare providers!