Many people who can benefit from physiotherapy aren’t taking advantage of it. In 2011, about 12 million adults received outpatient physiotherapy services, which means “only 9.58% of the people who could have benefited from (physiotherapy) services ever received them,” wrote a contributor to Web PT.
Are you part of the 90 percent of individuals who could benefit from a physiotherapist’s services but aren’t taking the initiative to contact a local physiotherapist office? If so, it may be time to give physiotherapy a try.
3 Amazing Reasons to Give Physiotherapy a Try
Physiotherapy can change your life, but only if you give it an honest try. Here are three reasons you should reach out to a physiotherapist today to set up an evaluation:
1. It reduces costs associated with injury and pain — If you deal with chronic pain, you understand what it can cost financially. Medications, doctor visits, time off work — it can all add up quickly. Physiotherapy helps lower the costs associated with injury and pain.
Take low back pain, for example. “The journal Health Services Research published results from a study looking into patients suffering from low back pain and the cost benefits of them undergoing physical therapy treatment. The study…found that using physical therapy as a first treatment strategy resulted in 72% fewer costs for the patient within the first year,” stated 7 Thought-Provoking Facts About Physical Therapy You Can’t Ignore.
2. It is a drug-free treatment for pain — When taken as prescribed and when they are truly needed, medications can improve the quality of your life. However, medications are not without side effects, and drugs that dull pain are often over-prescribed.
With physiotherapy, no drugs are involved in the treatment of pain. On the contrary, regularly participating in a physiotherapy program can reduce one’s need for pain medications since it is a proven treatment for pain.
“Physical therapy is often one of the best choices you can make when you have long-term pain (also called chronic pain) or an injury,” stated WebMD. Best of all, physiotherapy treats the cause of pain, sometimes eliminating pain altogether.
3. You don’t need a referral — Don’t believe the myth that you have to get a referral from your doctor for physiotherapy. In Canada, a physiotherapist is considered a first-line healthcare provider. This means you can make an appointment with a physiotherapist on your own without the hassle of first visiting your primary care doctor. Here are some tips for choosing the right physiotherapist for you.
Find a Physiotherapist in Winnipeg
Do you live near Winnipeg? Are you in need of the services of a physiotherapist? If so, contact Elite Sports Injury Physiotherapy Clinics in Winnipeg. The friendly team at Elite is ready and waiting for your call.
What are some reasons that you are waiting to contact a physiotherapist? Share your thoughts with us in the section below.