I had my six-month dental visit this week. The dentist inspected, scraped, cleaned, provided me with tips, strategies, floss, toothpaste, a new brush, and a referral for additional work. Leaving the office I had a plan, tools and resources to improve my dental health. In six months they’ll reinspect and provide me with an updated plan.
We visit our dental office everyone six months, why not our physical therapy office? Like our dental health, our movement health changes over time. Changes in lifestyle, activities, furniture, work, car, and many other things can affect the quality of our movement. When movement is compromised, we compensate. When we overcompensate, we risk pain, discomfort, and injury. When we have pain, discomfort, or injury, we stop moving. When we stop moving, we risk our overall health and wellbeing.
Like flossing and brushing, we must think of exercise as a daily preventive measure. Avoid a root canal by flossing, avoid a back surgery by exercising. Not to mention the social, emotional, and psychological benefits of exercise. A physical therapy office can provide screens such as the Functional Movement Screen for those without pain, or a pain or injury screen for those with pain. Either screen will allow a movement specialist to provide you with tips, strategies, tools, and resources to improve your movement health.