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Why Physical Therapy Is Your Ticket To A Pain-Free Life

by | Apr 30, 2022 | Wellness

physical therapy to reduce pain

You’ve heard of Physical Therapy. But how can it really help you? 

You have an ache. A pain. You slept/got out of bed wrong. Sat too long at your desk. You might have fallen, tripped, slipped, twisted your ankle, hit your back, landed on your arm wrong.

Or maybe you were working out and felt something “tweak” while lifting.

We’ve all been there!

There are an immeasurable number of things that can happen during our daily activities and routines that lead us to mild discomfort, or in some cases, extreme levels of pain.

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When that happens, a common reaction that has been programmed for many is to call their primary care physician or provider.

The belief is to make an appointment to have someone look, tell us if something is wrong, and then send us on our way with an x-ray, MRI, prescription of some sort, to “rest” or “stay off it”, and hope the pain will subside at some point.

Physical Therapy in Coon Rapids

What If You Started Your Journey With Physical Therapy?

What if you started with an expert trained in the way our bodies move and how our muscles and joints work together? A Doctor of Physical Therapy might not be your initial thought.

But, imagine if someone truly took the time to understand you and what happened (instead of sending you on your way without clear next steps or solutions to your injury), and you were provided both short and long-term remedies to manage the current problem(s) and minimize the risk of future injuries.

A physical therapist is an expert in movement, meant to help you move better – without fear of further pain or injury. We treat the root cause of pain rather than masking it with opioids.

Unfortunately, too often PT is thought of as post injury/surgical rehabilitation. It’s not always the obvious first step in someone’s journey dealing with aches and pains. Let’s discuss a few reasons why we might want to change our way of thinking when it comes to pain/injury management!

  • Unnecessary Costs! Often, we hear our patients have previously been referred for unnecessary x-rays, MRIs, prescribed medication or medical equipment that may cost them extra money. We often don’t need all that to know what is causing your pain and how to get you better. 
  • Saving Time! This goes hand-in-hand with saving money. Our goal is to help you save on time by not attending unnecessary primary care or specialist visits. 
  • Delayed Care! Aside from saving personal time and money, it delays the appropriate care needed, which can then turn a small simple issue into a much bigger one costing you significantly more later. As a general rule of thumb, the quicker you get into see one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy, the faster you get results and back to the things you love to do in life. You can sometimes wait days or even months to see a specialist only to have them recommend physical therapy in the end. Imagine if you had started with physical therapy first, you would’ve been a month into your treatment plan. If only a month was needed to feel better – think of how much time and money you’d saved! 

PRO Therapy - Northeast & Coon Rapids

What Is It like To Work With A Doctor Of Physical Therapy At PRO Therapy? 

Well, we start by letting you choose the first step in your path. We give you the option of talking to us first – in person or on the phone. We answer any questions you might have about who we are and what makes us different from the next, what PT is, why it can help you – you know, all the basic questions you want answered before making a commitment.

We aim to ensure you know what you are committing to before committing to it! That way we are all on same page before we even start your journey to ensure you have THE best chance possible at doing all the things you want to do and love when working with us. Better yet, if you already have all your questions answered and you’re ready to get started – perfect! You’re not required to have a chat first, it’s an option for those who need it.  We like choices. Options for each individual based on their specific case. Because no two patients or two injuries are the same, and we recognize that!

Once you’re ready, we are too! We get you scheduled for an initial evaluation at which point we’ll complete a comprehensive assessment and develop a game plan.

At this 60-minute visit, we’ll assess your injury, we also discuss your goals and what you really want to get out of your experience with us. We hear your story, what happened, what it inhibits you from doing, all the ways it’s impacting your every-day life.

We then discuss what next steps are needed to get you there – we call this your plan of care. After your initial evaluation with us is completed, you get your plan of care scheduled, and you’re ready to go! Ready to begin a journey with us that is fun, informative, and most importantly, successful!

Physical Therapy in Northeast

Is This Overly Simplified For The Purpose Of This Blog?

Maybe. But, our goal is to show you how simple the process can be.

How easy it can be to find out exactly what is going on without having to see two to three different providers before you come up with something that might work for you.

Here at PRO Therapy, you work with a Doctor of Physical Therapy (PT), and a tailored plan for you and your goals – there is no cookie cutter solve! Ever.

This was a big reason Dr. Kevin Spahr and Liz Spahr started PRO Therapy. We wanted to ensure every single person we work with gets the best value of care and best chance of living an injury-free life based on the needs for each individual person that comes into our private practice.

This is also why there is a full suite of treatments (for all conditions) our PTs can choose from during your plan of care.

Each one is strategically used when needed to meet the goals you aligned to in the beginning of your treatment plan. Curious about the treatments? Here’s a list of options your plan of care could include:

  • Spinal/Extremity Joint Manipulation
  • Joint Mobilization
  • Dry Needling
  • Muscle Energy Techniques
  • Active Release Technique
  • Trigger Point Therapy
  • Soft Tissue Mobilization
  • Myofascial Release
  • Kinesiotaping
  • Graston Technique
  • Therapeutic Exercise
  • Therapeutic Activities
  • Neuromuscular Re-Education
  • Gait Training
  • Postural Evaluation
  • Custom Orthotics
  • Work Hardening/Conditioning Programs
  • Sport-Specific Programs
  • Cupping Therapy
  • Laser Therapy
  • Electrical Stimulation
  • Mechanical Traction
  • Ultrasound

We strive to provide evidence-based treatments that include both manual therapy and exercise to help expedite recovery!

Have questions?  Contact us today!  We’d love to hear more about you and what’s going on!  

Why You Shouldn’t Just Wait For Things To Get Better

When pain strikes the body, we know it’s very tempting to leave it and hope it’ll simply “go away on its own” with time and rest.

One day, you’ll wake up and like “magic”, it’ll be as if the problem never happened in the first place – but that’s usually not the case, and often the pain/stiffness/tightness ends up worse than it was when it first started.

We also understand it’s very easy to reach into the back of the cupboard for the painkillers, and take them whenever pain strikes. But, the truth of the matter is that all of those painkillers (over-the-counter or prescribed) are detrimental to your health long-term, and quite simply do nothing but “mask” the pain instead of tackling the root cause.

Maybe you’re left feeling Confused?
Skeptical?
Fearful?
Anxious?
Depressed?

You’ve sought advice from other healthcare professionals, maybe even a Physical Therapist in the past, but nothing they seemed to say or do helped solve your problem.

That’s where we can help.

PRO Therapy’s Core Values

  • People First…Patient Second
  • Be Passionate, Empathetic & Humble
  • Pursue Growth & Learning
  • Positive Team, Family Spirit
  • Be Kind, Have Fun, Laugh Often

We never generalize. Everyone is different, and what works for some might not work for others. That’s why we take the time to get to know you, and understand your exact situation.

As a final note, always remember that discomfort and chronic pain does not make you a ‘freak of nature’!

It’s incredibly common for people to need help in managing and vanquishing their pain. Don’t suffer in silence. Reach out to us!

Dr. Kevin Spahr has extensive expertise in post-surgical rehab, work-related injuries, sports injuries and motor vehicle accidents. He has clinical experience in treating all regions of the body including neck, back, shoulder, elbow, hand/wrist, hip, knee, and ankle/foot orthopedic conditions.
Dr. Kevin Spahr

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Read our reviews from other people like you who came to see the physical therapy team – and left much healthier and happier.
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PRO Therapy5.0
Based on 379 reviews
Jonathan F.
Over the summer I was dealing with lower leg injuries after trying to get back into distance running. I had been working towards completing the Twin Cities Marathon (16 years after my first marathon TCM). I was starting to think I would have to drop out but someone I knew referred me here and to Dr. Kelvyn. He shared that he thought the race was still in reach and worked me to in the final several weeks, and I'm proud to say I showed up healthy on race day and completed the 2026 TCM thanks to his help.
Bob H.
10/10 would recommend Kevin and the clinic. The PT is top notch and cutting edge. I had them use the Stemwave technology for my MCL sprain, and noticed a dramatic improvement after just one session, and consistent improvements after each of my next three sessions. Pro Therapy is much more cutting edge and sports medicine based than most other PTs. I’d highly recommend them!
Jane T.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’m so grateful for the care and support I received from Dr. Kevin! He made me feel comfortable, listened to my concerns, and genuinely cared about my progress. Dr. Kevin is great! He’s very nice, personable, and makes you feel comfortable throughout the process. He always takes the time to explain what’s going on, walk me through my options, and involve me in decisions about my treatment. I really appreciate how he makes sure I understand everything and feel like an active part of my care. I am very thankful for the treatment from Pro Therapy and would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a caring, knowledgeable, and supportive physical therapist!
Martha A.
I am so grateful to Dr. Lily and everyone at PRO Therapy for the exceptional care I received after my total knee replacement. Dr. Lily helped me not only recover, but also return to the activities I love and regain confidence in my fitness journey. Her approach is truly personalized. She is extremely knowledgeable, listens to your needs and goals, and knows exactly how to challenge and motivate you without pain/injury. She also recognizes when treatment needs to be adjusted. Her wonderful personality makes even the toughest days manageable and fun. The entire PRO Therapy staff is kind, encouraging, and genuinely invested in each patient. You feel cared for as an individual—not just another number. Having experienced physical therapy at large healthcare institutions, I can say PRO Therapy is a far superior experience: personal, attentive, and focused on your goals. I’m having my second total knee replacement next month and have already scheduled appointments with Dr. Lily. There is nowhere else I would want to be for my rehab and fitness journey. I wholeheartedly recommend and thank Dr. Lily and PRO Therapy!
Ellie B.
Pro Therapy has been so helpful for me - Dr. Lily is the best!
Dave G.
Pro therapy is great! They quickly make you feel like a friend rather than a patient. Dr Kevin listens first then comes up with reasonable approaches to strengthen the root cause of my knee pain rather than a quick band aid type fix. The stem wave machine is also a godsend!
Ty L.
Have used PRO Therapy for a couple injury's now and they are great! Easy to work with, listen to your concerns and adapt treatments as needed! I highly recommend!
Andrea Mora B.
Anna and Peter S.
Great experience at Pro therapy with Dr Kelvyn. Lots of improvement. He is good at listening
Dennis
The best, care and expert.