Your Pain Ends Here.
Have you recently suffered from a sports injury or auto accident? Chances are if you have, you’re still dealing with the effects. If you are struggling with acute or chronic pain and have yet to find relief, it’s time for a change. Contact Complete Physical Rehab today to learn more about how our licensed physical therapists can get you on the path to a pain-free life.
How Can Physical Therapy Help Relieve Pain?
The goal of physical therapy is to reduce and eliminate pain while improving mobility and function. According to WebMD, “Physical therapy is often one of the best choices you can make when you have long-term pain (also called chronic pain) or an injury. It can make you stronger and help you move and feel better.”
The typical physical therapy treatment consists of multiple targeted exercises and stretches for pain relief. These exercises are given to you to improve the function of your core muscles. Some physical therapists use bikes, exercise balls, weights, or other tools as well to help restore movement and range of motion. Using your own body weight with pushups and lunges may be part of the treatment plan as well. All of the exercises are designed to provide pain relief, target problem areas, and relax muscles.
Types of physical therapy
Other modalities in physical therapy may be used as well to achieve pain relief. A few are as follows:
- Hot and cold therapy. Heat and ice packs can be applied to the affected areas to decrease inflammation and pain. This is a very common method of treatment in physical therapy and can be used to supplement other forms of pain relief.
- Massage therapy. Massage therapy is a manual technique used to increase mobility in tight or restricted areas. This is done with rhythmic stretching and applying deep pressure to fibrous muscle tissue.Massage treatments are helpful with breaking up scar tissue and adhesions caused by inflammation or injury. It also assists with improving blood flow and circulation to the affected muscles and soft tissues.
- Direct manipulation. Direct manipulation of the joints can be done to improve functioning and maintain proper alignment.
- Ultrasound therapy. Some physical therapy treatment plans include electrical stimulation as well, where currents are sent to sooth affected areas and reduce pain. Ultrasound technology can send sound waves deep into inflamed tissues and joints, blocks pain signals from going to the brain, and is useful for musculoskeletal problems.
Conditions physical therapy can help
According to the APTA, “Studies have established the efficacy of physical therapy in treating and reducing pain as well as preventing chronic pain.” Here are a few common conditions that can be relieved or even eliminated with the help of a professional physical therapist.
- Lower back pain & sciatica: Sciatica is a condition where pain will radiate down the buttock, thighs, and legs. It’s also common to experience a numbness, burning or tingling sensation on certain parts of the leg. Physical therapy exercises and stretches can help relieve pressure placed on the sciatic nerve, and in turn, reduce overall pain felt in regions of the back.
- Rehabilitation done before and after surgery: “Pre-hab,” or rehabilitation before surgery, has become more common. It has been found to improve patient outcomes and recovery processes. Studies also show that starting physical therapy about a month prior to a scheduled surgery can seriously speed up your recovery time as well. Seeing a physical therapist during the recovery period after a procedure is a must as well, to ensure proper alignment of muscles and joints as you learn to move around again.
- Arthritis: Arthritis is commonly mistaken for a condition that one only experiences as they age, however, it can affect anyone no matter how old they are! Therapeutic exercise programs can reduce pain and improve physical function among individuals with hip and knee osteoarthritis.
Injury prevention with physical therapy
The nervous system may still send pain signals even after an injury has fully healed. In addition to providing pain relief for you, a physical therapist can also teach you about sensory re-education for chronic pain. Sensory re-education decreases sensitivity to the affected area, and desensitizes the nervous system.
Your physical therapist can also show you new ways to move in your everyday life to prevent re-injuring the same place in your body in the future, or receiving a new injury. For example, if you lift heavy objects often, you’re likely to strain muscles without realizing it until much later. Physical therapists can show you the correct ways to bend and lift without hurting yourself.
Contact our office today!
If you are struggling with pain that is affecting your daily life, it’s time to put your foot down. Enough is enough, you don’t have to struggle day in and day out with soreness, aches, and inflammation that keeps you from enjoying the things you love!
A licensed physical therapist can assess your condition, discover any underlying health issues you might have, pinpoint the source of your pain, and create a customized treatment plan specifically for your needs. Contact Complete Physical Rehab today to learn more about our pain management and relief options; our physical therapists are ready to help!