The Out Patient Physical Therapy Clinic at the Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma had an open house on Thursday, which happens to coincide with physical therapy month.

Physical therapy is designed to increase mobility, decrease or eliminate pain, and give a person an over all better quality of life.

There are four major ways physical therapists treat their patients: Increasing a patient’s range of motion, stretching, strength training, and the use of modalities. There are a variety of modalities that include hot and cold packs, ultrasound and electrical nerve and muscle stimulation.

Physical therapy is not always just applied for sports injuries or post operation patients, it’s also used for things as common as back pain and orthopedic issues.

Some patients are even prescribed pre-operation physical therapy, these patients often progress faster following their surgery.

In addition to the care received by professionals at a physical therapy clinic, the patient is responsible for keeping up their rehabilitation on their own, during and after their time at a clinic.

“We can help you but you have to take a proactive approach to your own recovery,” said Andrea Brown, a physical therapist assistant at the Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma’s Outpatient Clinic.

Jimmy White had total knee replacement surgery five weeks ago. “It’s a necessity,” said White, who is currently undergoing treatment in the Physical Therapy Outpatient Clinic at MCSO.

Teaching is also a large part of what goes on in a physical therapy clinic.

“We educate everybody, it’s a lifelong process” said Andrea Brown, physical therapist assistant with the MCSO Outpatient Physical Therapy Clinic. Instruction on proper posture, ergonomics, and lifting are among issues covered.

“Take health care into your own hands,” said Sydney Long, the Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma’s Physical Therapy Director. “Being active and living a healthy lifestyle is the key to long-term health.”