PTs use a holistic approach that includes education to improve your understanding of pain and the factors that contribute to it. This may include faulty movement patterns, muscle weakness, areas of stiffness that prevent normal motion, and fear or emotional responses to pain.
Physical therapists can teach you new ways to move in your daily activities that reduce or eliminate pain and prevent it from returning. This is called sensory re-education or desensitization. Visit https://www.onpointphysio.com/ to learn more.
Physical therapy focuses on strengthening muscles that help support and stabilize joints. This helps reduce the stress on painful areas, so you can move better. It’s also a way to learn how to prevent future injury, whether you’re an athlete or simply want to take steps to stay healthy and active as you get older.
Getting pain relief through physical therapy can actually help you avoid dependency on addictive opioid medications, according to studies. While it’s important to work with a doctor for any medical conditions that require prescription opioids, a physical therapist can help you create a plan to manage your pain through low-impact exercise and other techniques that provide effective long-term relief.
Another benefit of working with a physical therapist is developing a strong client-client relationship. Few health professionals spend as much one-on-one time with patients as a physical therapist does, giving them an opportunity to truly connect and develop a trusting bond. This emotional connection can help ease anxiety about the treatment process and encourage adherence to a patient’s recovery plan, which is key for a successful outcome.
Physical therapists are experts not only in treating pain but also in identifying its source. They’ll look for weak or stiff areas that are adding pressure to painful ones, and they can recommend specific exercises to help ease the pain and improve mobility. They can also teach you how to use equipment like strength-training machines and resistance bands in your home, as well as simple exercises that target specific muscle groups (think lunges, squats, pushups) and use the weight of your body for additional impact.
There are also a variety of therapeutic treatments that can be administered during physical therapy, including ultrasound, TENS, and electrical stimulation, which uses electricity to decrease the pain signals sent from the body to the brain. Massage is another common treatment, which is used to increase blood flow and relieve tightness, as well as to help reduce stress on painful areas. Other modalities, such as moist heat and cold, can also be beneficial in decreasing inflammation and reducing the feeling of pain.
Increased Flexibility
Many people who go through a physical injury, surgery or suffer from a health condition that affects their mobility turn to physical therapy to reduce pain and increase their strength and range of motion. Although PT is often seen as an add-on to other treatments, it can be an integral part of your recovery and help you avoid future problems like injuries or surgery.
Whether you need a few sessions after an injury or long-term help managing your pain and mobility, your physical therapist will create a personalized treatment plan to address your goals and needs. They will examine your symptoms and consider factors like your medical history, age and lifestyle. They will then develop techniques to improve your mobility, function and overall quality of life.
Physical therapists use techniques like manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and other therapies to reduce your pain, manage your condition, improve your mobility and promote wellness. They also provide education to help you prevent future problems and live a healthier lifestyle.
A physical therapist can improve your range of motion and muscle flexibility by teaching you stretching exercises. Keeping your muscles, joints and limbs flexible helps prevent injuries because it decreases the amount of stress on your body.
They may also recommend strengthening exercises to improve your muscles and joints’ stability. This will help you perform daily activities without any pain or discomfort.
In addition to helping you regain your range of motion and flexibility, physical therapy can help you reduce the amount of pain medication you take. This is especially helpful if you have a chronic pain condition, like arthritis or fibromyalgia. Studies show that even one session of physical therapy can lower the amount of opioids you take.
Living with pain and mobility issues can be frustrating. If you are not able to enjoy activities you love or get the care that you need, it is important to seek medical help.
Reduced Pain
A physical therapist can reduce pain and make movement easier by building the strength of affected muscles and helping to restore proper function. These methods can be used to treat musculoskeletal pain such as back and neck pain, joint pain from arthritis, or even neuropathic pain from conditions like fibromyalgia. Unlike medications, which mask pain, physical therapy addresses the root of the problem to help reduce its occurrence in the future.
In addition to providing direct treatment of painful areas, physical therapists will also teach patients how to manage their pain with lifestyle modifications. This can include posture, body mechanics, and ergonomic adjustments to work environments. These strategies can prevent the recurrence of pain in daily life and decrease the need for long-term use of pain medication.
During a physical therapy session, the physical therapist will observe your movements and ask you questions about how your pain is affecting your life. They will then guide you through a routine of hands-on treatments and exercises to strengthen the affected area, which can improve your overall range of motion.
They may also use techniques such as neuromuscular reeducation to improve nerve and muscle function. This can improve balance, coordination, and proprioception – the ability to sense your position in space. In the case of neuropathic pain, this can reduce sensitivity to touch and decrease pain in the affected area by blocking messages from the brain that are associated with it.
Physical therapists will also utilize tools to alleviate immediate pain, such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and hot or cold therapies. These can be used in combination to relieve inflammation and relax muscles, which can ease some pain. They can also use ultrasound to send gentle sound waves into the affected area, which can reduce swelling and block pain signals from being sent to the brain.
Physical therapists can also help with the emotional aspects of pain, such as fear and anxiety. They can help you understand how to cope with these emotions and use breathing and relaxation techniques to minimize the impact on your daily life. This can help you feel less anxious and more confident in your abilities to overcome pain.
Prevention
Aside from alleviating pain, physical therapy can help prevent future injury and improve movement throughout the body. For example, if you have a medical condition or injury that causes you to walk with an unnatural gait, your physical therapist can teach you to correct the imbalance and walk more naturally. Similarly, if you suffer from chronic back pain, your physical therapist can work with you to develop strength and flexibility exercises that can reduce the stress on your spine.
In addition to helping you move better, physical therapists also educate individuals on how to manage their pain with self-empowerment. They may suggest lifestyle modifications such as dietary changes and relaxation techniques that can be used to supplement the treatment plan and help individuals achieve their pain management goals. They also regularly reassess patients to ensure that their treatment is on track.
Getting back to living your best life is easier when you have the tools to manage your pain with confidence. With the right plan in place, you can avoid medication dependency and continue enjoying a healthy and active lifestyle.
Pain is a natural response to injury, illness or danger, but it can become out of control and disrupt your quality of life. Medications can mask the pain, but they do not get to the root of the problem. Physical therapy addresses the underlying cause of your pain, thereby allowing you to live without pain and resume the activities that bring you joy.
While some people only need a few weeks of physical therapy to manage their pain, others work with their physical therapists for months to manage symptoms from a long-term health issue. Regardless of how long you need to attend physical therapy, your doctor will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that suits your needs and budget. In many cases, statutory health insurers cover the costs of prescribed physical therapy. For more information on how to get started, contact a reputable physical therapy company today.