Dr. Jamie Stokes
Physical Therapist
Pelvic Health Specialist

Physical therapy can be defined as the practice of diagnosing, treating, and managing conditions that hinder physical movement and function. Physical therapy helps individuals of all ages regain range of motion, experience less pain, and avoid disability. 

As a certified Physical Therapist, I provide patients with a welcoming and comfortable environment for treating all types of physical pains, aches and injuries. When most individuals think of physical therapy, they think of it as what doctors will prescribe following an injury or surgery as a method of recovery. Physical therapy helps rebuild muscle strength and flexibility in a safe and controlled manner to prevent further injury or significant strain. It is important to get physical therapy for these issues to ensure muscles don’t atrophy. Many may not be aware of this, but physical therapy is not just limited to injuries or recovering from surgery. It is far more beneficial to a broader range of individuals than most realize.

Falls are all too common among seniors, which is what makes increasing balance through physical therapy so important. Overall, the main function of physical therapy for seniors is to help them maintain their independence for as long as possible, which is incredibly important for many seniors.

Besides assisting with maintaining independence, physical therapy can also help with a wide variety of medical conditions affecting an individual’s mobility, regardless of age. Medical conditions compromising mobility often mean muscle degeneration. Unfortunately, if there is no cure for the condition, there is no way to stop this degeneration completely. However, physical therapy helps patients with these conditions maintain their mobility and, just like seniors, their independence for as long as possible. As we know, the majority of individuals go to physical therapy to recover from an injury or surgery. However, physical therapy is phenomenal at avoiding injuries and even surgery in the first place.