Winter can bring a lot of fun for your whole family, from having a bonfire to going ice skating. If you’re in an area that gets snow, you’re likely going to have to deal with walking on ice at some point, which can lead to painful falls.
Slipping and falling on ice can cause a variety of injuries, from bruises to fractured wrists and ankle dislocations. The good news is that physical therapy can help treat nearly any injury you may have sustained from slipping on ice. It can help you move along your recovery journey so you can enjoy everything the season has to offer.
Read on to learn about how physical therapy can help you recover from slipping on ice. We’ll also discuss how KC Rehab can get you back on your feet with a personalized plan.
5 ways physical therapy can help you through recovery from slipping on ice
When you slip on ice and sustain an injury that impacts your everyday routines, physical therapy provides benefits that go beyond soothing the ache. By learning about the different ways that physical therapy can help you after a fall, you can gain a better understanding of why it should be one of the first courses of action.
Here are five benefits of seeking physical therapy after slipping on ice:
Full evaluation of fall impact — After you’ve been diagnosed with an injury by a doctor, it’s important that a physical therapist treats every part of your physical health that may have been affected. For instance, a bruised hip can affect your gait, or the positioning of your body as you walk. Your physical therapist can complete a full evaluation of your symptoms, as well as your strength, flexibility and coordination, to make sure that your treatment covers all the bases.
Reduced pain — Most likely, one of your primary motivators for seeking physical therapy after slipping on ice is pain. If you have persistent or worsening pain, your physical therapist can help you manage it to keep it from interfering with your quality of life. Depending on the type of injury you’ve sustained, they may use treatments like dry needling. They can also help reduce the pain through manual therapy, such as soft tissue mobilization, which involves massage-like movements to break up tight tissue.
Increased joint and muscle strength — Restoring mobility of the affected area is one of the main goals of a physical therapy treatment plan. Your therapist will help you accomplish this goal by guiding you through targeted therapeutic exercises that build the strength of the affected muscles and joints. This not only helps to restore the area’s mobility, but it also improves the joint’s range of motion while reducing the pain during each movement.
Improved balance — Preventive measures can go a long way in helping to decrease the risk of future injuries, such as recurring slips. One of the most effective preventive approaches is improving your balance and coordination. Your physical therapist can help you improve your stability while moving through specific exercises, such as standing on one leg or walking heel-to-toe. They may also make suggestions for you to incorporate into your daily life, such as buying shoe inserts that improve balance.
Accelerated recovery — No matter what injury you sustain from slipping on ice, you want to recover as fast as possible to return to your regular activities. While recovery is a journey that may take time, physical therapy can help accelerate the timeline. Physical therapy treatments can improve blood circulation to the injured area and reduce potential inflammation.
KC Rehab can help you recover from slipping on ice
Snow can be fun to play in, but the ice that comes along with it isn’t a laughing matter. Slipping on ice can lead to a range of potential injuries that can make you want to lie on the couch until spring comes. Fortunately, the right physical therapy treatment can help you recover and get back to your activities.
At KC Rehab, we’ll design a personalized physical therapy treatment plan that can help you along your recovery journey following a fall on the ice. It may involve a variety of treatment options, including leg and hip strengthening exercises, balance exercises, and dry needling. We want to help your current symptoms while improving the overall quality of the affected area to reduce the risk of future issues.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
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