by Brianna Wilkerson

Mental health affects how we think, feel, and behave. Good mental health is important to think about as it affects how we make healthy choices, interact with others, handle day to day stress, and stay physically healthy. Ever wonder if mental health and being physically active are related? Do you think exercise affects how we think, feel, and behave? The answer is yes! Here are a few ways physical therapy can help improve mental health.

1. Reduces stress & relieves tension

Exercise can reduce stress hormones and help release endorphins, which are chemicals in our brain that act as natural pain killers, causing relaxation.

2. Improves quality of sleep

Relief in pain and discomfort increase’s your ability to get a good night of rest. Feeling well rested can help you feel better emotionally and physically as you aren’t as tired and may even feel more energized.

3. Creates a sense of achievement

When you reach your goal or see positive outcomes from the work you have done you can feel a sense of pride or increase in self-esteem! Causing you to leave feeling proud and motivated.

4. Helps you to cope

Physical therapy can provide an outlet for your emotions in a safe space and help you cope through movement, leading to an improved mood!

5. Improves social engagement

During physical therapy you will interact and have conversations with providers each session where you can have productive discussions. Feeling apart of social engagement can reduce feelings of anxiety or depression as you are more involved with others and less isolated.

If you aren’t able to do your typical physical activity because of a movement limitation, we can help! We offer free movement screens with our movement experts. These screens are 20 minutes long and you can discuss you limitations to see if physical therapy could help. To schedule a free screen reach out online or give us a call at 866-588-0230.

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