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Indroduction to Orthopedic Injury

Physical therapists often see patients who have suffered injuries to their muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons or nerves. These conditions are often considered orthopedic injuries.

In many cases, your primary care provider will be the first to diagnose an orthopedic injury. After that, you may be referred to an orthopedic surgeon or other specialist, depending on your condition. At some point in your treatment, it’s possible that you’ll be referred to a physical therapist, whose job involves not just treatment, but also rehabilitation and the prevention of future injuries.

One key element of physical therapy is working to improve the mobility and function of any part of the body affected by an orthopedic injury. We use a combination of stretches, exercises, and other therapies to treat an injury. Some of the areas that are commonly treated include the ankle, knee, shoulder, and wrist.