What Does a Physical Therapist Do

A physical therapist helps people reduce pain, restore movement, improve strength, and recover from injuries or surgery. At Body Solutions PT, this includes hands-on manual therapy, corrective exercises, mobility work, posture training, and personalized treatment plans built around your goals.

Most people think physical therapists only help with injury rehab. And while that’s a big part of the job, the work goes far beyond simple exercise routines. A physical therapist looks at how your body moves, why it hurts, and what’s limiting your mobility. Then they build a treatment plan to help you get back to living the way you want — without pain holding you back.

Here’s what a physical therapist actually does, and how we approach your care at Body Solutions PT in Draper.

A Physical Therapist Finds the Root of the Problem

Pain usually comes from more than one source. A PT doesn’t just look at the area that hurts. They check how the whole body moves.

For example:

• Knee pain may come from weak hips.

• Back pain may start from poor posture.

• Neck pain can be tied to tight shoulders or limited thoracic mobility.
  
  

At Body Solutions PT, your first session always includes a simple but detailed assessment of:

• Posture

• Mobility

• Strength imbalances

• Daily movement habits

• Past injuries

• Current limitations
  
  

This gives us the full picture so your plan actually works — not just temporarily, but long term.

Hands-On Treatment to Reduce Pain

One of the biggest benefits of PT is manual therapy. This is hands-on work designed to relieve pain, improve mobility, and calm irritated tissues.

Depending on your needs, this may include:

Manual Physical Therapy

Targeted pressure, joint mobilizations, and soft-tissue techniques to improve range of motion and reduce pain.

Dry Needling

Used for tight muscles, trigger points, and chronic pain. It helps the muscle relax and reset.

Myofascial release and deep tissue techniques

Great for stiffness, tension headaches, and long-standing tightness.

This type of hands-on care often gives fast relief and sets the stage for better movement.

Corrective Exercise to Fix How Your Body Moves

Once pain starts to calm down, PT shifts toward building strength and mobility in the areas that need it most.

Corrective exercise is personalized — not cookie-cutter. It’s based on your posture, weaknesses, and daily habits.

This can include:

• Mobility drills for stiff joints

• Stretching for tight muscles

• Strength training for weak areas

• Core stability work

• Balance and coordination training

• Functional movements to match your daily life
  
  

If you sit all day, your plan will look different than someone training for sports — and that’s the point.

Help You Heal After Surgery or Injury

Physical therapists play a major role in post-surgical recovery and injury rehab.

Common cases include:

• ACL tears

• Rotator cuff repair

• Knee replacements

• Ankle sprains

• Meniscus injuries

• Back and neck injuries
  
  

Recovery is guided step-by-step to make sure you’re healing safely while building strength at the right pace.

At Body Solutions PT, we also teach you how to move confidently again so you don’t have to worry about re-injury.

Improve Posture and Everyday Movement

You don’t need to be an athlete to benefit from PT. Many people come in because everyday tasks feel harder than they should.

We help with:

• Sitting posture

• Standing alignment

• Lifting mechanics

• Workplace ergonomics

• Walking or running technique
  
  

Small changes can take a lot of pressure off your joints and reduce chronic pain.

Help Prevent Future Injuries

A physical therapist doesn’t just treat what’s already wrong. They also teach you how to avoid future problems.

Prevention includes:

• Strength and stability training

• Proper warm-ups

• Flexibility routines

• Sport-specific conditioning

• Movement corrections
  
  

If you’re active — or want to be — PT keeps your body functioning at a level that supports your goals.

Education So You Know What’s Going On

One of the most important roles of a PT is education. You learn:

• Why you’re in pain

• What will help it heal

• What movements to avoid

• What habits support recovery

• How to safely build strength
  
  

Knowing why something hurts gives you more control and confidence during your recovery.

Why People Choose Body Solutions PT

At Body Solutions PT in Draper, the focus is simple: personalized, hands-on treatment that gets real results.

Patients choose us because we offer:

• One-on-one care

• Manual therapy and dry needling

• Corrective exercise tailored to your body

• Clear explanations and simple home programs

• A plan that matches your lifestyle and goals
  
  

We help you move better, feel stronger, and live pain-free — not just today, but long term.