Yearly Physical Therapy Visits are Just as Important as Annual Cholesterol Tests

A cholesterol test is ordered during your primary care physician visit. The purpose of this visit is to screen for medical issues, assess your risk for future medical problems, encourage a healthy lifestyle, update vaccinations and help you get to know your provider in case of an illness. If the results are positive, you might hear: “You’re doing great, keep doing what you’ve been doing!” If the results are unfavorable, then you’re more likely to be told: “I’d like you to walk for 30 minutes each day and eat foods containing less saturated fat.

When you have high cholesterol, you may develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits make it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries. Your heart may not get as much oxygen-rich blood as it needs, which increases the risk of a heart attack. Decreased blood flow to your brain can cause a stroke. Similarly, the cumulative effects of poor posture habits or a strength imbalance, for example, can take a toll on your body and inhibit your ability to move properly. That’s where a physical therapist comes in: Annual PT “checkups” can catch the musculoskeletal problems that put you at risk for injury or limit your ability to function down the line.

Physical therapists can study and start you on a progressive course of treatment that is designed to rebalance your muscles. Based on the information gathered, a physical therapist can help you safely reach your fitness goals and teach preventive strategies that can be incorporated into your daily life.

An annual Physical Therapy checkup can ensure that essential internal structures are working together to support, stabilize and move your body. During an annual visit, a physical therapist will gather the patient’s health history and perform a series of test and measures, including a screening of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular and cardiovascular systems.

Schedule your annual physical therapy exam today! Our Live Your Life physical therapists are well versed in helping you live your life to the best of your ability. Contact us today to schedule your appointment. Visit our website to learn more!