If you are injured, physical therapy helps you to accelerate your healing process and to have a more complete recovery.

The Reaction Phase of Your Injury

During the first 24-72 hours after injury, you have a sympathetic nervous system reaction that disrupts your blood and nerve vessels. The result is muscle swelling and spasm. People usually use painkillers and immobilize the painful body part in this stage. This is a start, but not enough.

Physical therapy helps you complete the Reaction Phase sooner. A special exercise program increases blood flow to bring healing nutrients and oxygen to the injured area, thus accelerating the healing process. Gentle manual therapy reduces pain, swelling, spasms, and your chances of developing scar tissue.

If you have just been injured, call 503.236.3108 for an evaluation or free consultation. A doctor's prescription is not always necessary to start early care.

The Regeneration Phase of Your Injury

During the Regeneration Phase, which typically lasts 6-8 weeks, your body lays down new tissue and repairs nerve connections to damaged tissue. This is also the time when undesirable scar tissue may begin to form.

During the Regeneration Phase, physical therapy is your primary method for achieving a number of benefits, including:

• Acceleration of the repair and strengthening of your damaged tissue
• Prevention of excessive scar tissue buildup, which can lead to recurring injuries
• Help in overall recovery, no matter how severe your injury is
• Decreased pain
• Increased delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the injured area
• Increased range of motion

If you have been injured at any time during the last two months, call 503.236.3108 for an evaluation or free consultation.

The Remodeling Phase of Your Injury

The Remodeling Phase is the complete restoration of healthy function of the injured area, and may take as long as 1 - 1 1/2 years after your injury. Don't be fooled into thinking you are healed just because you no longer have pain. Connective tissue is very slow to heal.

For example, the true source of a recurring spinal disc injury is often poor health of the connective tissue, and faulty spinal mechanics. This is why the simple act of bending over to pick up a pencil can cause serious back pain.

During your Remodeling Phase, physical therapy is necessary for complete restoration of connective tissue health. The benefits provided by physical therapy include:

• Strengthening of damaged tissue to prevent recurring injury
• Reduction of scar tissue buildup, which can lead to recurring injury
• Restoration of full elasticity and flexibility to muscles and joints
• Improved blood circulation and oxygenation to the entire body
• Minimized chronic pain
• Maintaining your range of motion
• Work retraining or work simulated activities that help you stay on the job

If you have been injured at any time during the last two years and haven't fully recovered or had physical therapy, call 503.236.3108 for an evaluation or free consultation.