Why an Annual Checkup with a Physical Therapist is Essential

Did you know that an annual checkup with a physical therapist should be scheduled along with your annual checkup with your physician? It’s true! And more people are starting to see their physical therapist on a regular basis without referral.

Physical therapy is currently more than just using therapy rehab for injuries and disabilities; it is now also considered an essential part of an overall health and wellness program with a holistic approach.  

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) recommends that you should schedule an annual checkup with your physical therapist and the American Heart Association recommends physical therapy as a preventative measure for the development of heart disease.

If you review current health studies a high percentage of people are sedentary which has contributed to the rise in obesity, hence the reason the House recently supported physical therapy as a means of establishing the importance of personalized health and wellness programs.

For these reasons and more people are beginning to become aware of the benefits a licensed physical therapist can have on their health and longevity.  A physical therapist does more than treat injuries and disabilities.  They are also licensed to offer personalized health and wellness programs by conducting a focused evaluation of a patient’s current health status and then creating a customized program to suit individual health issues.  

If the physical therapist finds a weakness they will make note of this and design a portion of the health and wellness program to improve the health issue and prevent it from getting worse.  This also saves the patient a lot of money on future treatments which may be more serious due to allowing the problem to get worse.

In addition to creating a personalized program which fits the patient like a glove, the physical therapist will guide the patient through the plan throughout the year.  If the patient experiences changes in health status, the physical therapist will adjust the plan to suit new developments.  

Physical therapists can also monitor the status of their patient’s health. If there is any issue that requires a physician’s attention they can immediately troubleshoot the health issue by referring the patient to the appropriate physician.

With an annual personalized plan that includes fitness and nutrition as well as a focus on improving specific weaknesses, a physical therapist can help their patients reverse the aging process at the cellular level.  By helping the patient stay with the program the physical therapist helps their patients to slow the aging process while increasing their chances of preventing serious injury or illnesses down the road.

Physical therapy is now more than just treating injuries and illness and instead it is a way of life!  What a great answer to our rising health dilemmas!

About Carol Lane:

Carol Lane has been a health-and-wellness expert for over 18 years.

Lane served as a physical therapist in the Army for four years, ensuring the men and women fighting for our freedom remained fit and well. Lane has also spent seven years working in various rehab facilities and home health agencies helping children and adults take care of themselves.  

In 1998, Lane established her own practice, Results Physical Therapy. Results initially specialized in older adult exercise programs and manual therapy, and then expanded to preventive care for adults of all ages, which allows patients to handle problems before they become serious as well as maintaining the health they have.  In 2006, she expanded her practice to the Greater Bangor and Dexter areas in Maine.

Lane has a B.S. in physical therapy from Daemen College, and a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, and a minor in healthcare administration from San Marcos State University.  Her patients say they like the opportunity to take better care of themselves in a friendly, enjoyable environment which she and her team strive to achieve on a continual basis.  Visit http://www.resultsphysicaltherapy.org