Physical therapy can play a significant role in helping you hit your highest fitness goals by soothing aches and pains and preventing further injury by maximizing your strength, mobility and function. But the best results require a detailed, individualized plan of care based on goals, injuries and needs.

In this podcast, Jo Goldin, a physical therapist with the U.S. Tennis Association, will show you how you can get started, what physical therapy covers and how to choose the right physical therapist for you.

Goldin, who has practiced in the U.S. and U.K. for 38 years, will also detail how physical therapists, unlike other fitness specialty professionals, have the education and state certification to:   

• Diagnose injuries and develop a customized treatment plan to help you recover quicker.       
• Focus on preventive care, which is especially helpful for older adults with chronic pain or limitations in movement because of an injury or arthritis. A bonus: Medicare covers physical therapy!
• Develop an exercise routine or a fitness plan that meets your goals, needs and lifestyle.