Wellness and Prevention

 

Prevention, wellness, and disease management has moved into the forefront of healthcare over the past decade as research continues to show the significant benefits of lifestyle changes on health. Lifestyle changes, including increased physical activity, can lead to health benefits in those with chronic disease, prevent or manage a number of noncommunicable diseases, and lead to an increased quality of life.

 

Physical therapy positively influences an individual's overall health, wellness, and fitness by providing services that positively impact physical fitness. Improving an individual's level of physical activity and physical fitness can prevent, remediate, improve, maintain, slow the decline of, or lower the risk of impairments of body functions and structures, activity limitations and participation restrictions. Physical therapy services that impact physical fitness include interventions that affect cardiovascular/pulmonary endurance, muscle strength, power, endurance and flexibility, relaxation, and body composition.