Physical therapy, also known as physiotherapy, aims to relieve pain, help you move better and strengthen weakened muscles. It is a much healthier alternative to taking medications, which have side effects and can become addictive.
Physical therapists use targeted exercises and manual techniques to alleviate pain. They also teach patients about coping strategies and self-management, which can reduce anxiety, depression and other psychological problems. Contact On Point Physical Therapy for professional help.
When you experience pain, your body sends an alarm signal to your brain that something is wrong. Your nervous system processes this signal and produces symptoms that can range from a dull ache to intense throbbing or burning. Pain is a normal part of the body’s process of healing, but when you suffer from chronic pain it can be difficult to find relief. Identifying the cause of your pain is an important step in relieving it, and physical therapy can help.
Physical therapists are movement experts and understand how different systems in the body integrate with movement. They are also knowledgeable about the latest evidence-based treatments for pain management. They will examine your entire body, not just the area with the pain, to determine if other areas are contributing to your discomfort.
A PT can use manual techniques and therapeutic exercises to relieve pain and improve mobility, function and overall well-being. They will work with you to set achievable pain management goals and collaborate on how best to achieve those objectives. They will also monitor your progress throughout treatment and provide regular reassessments to ensure you are getting the most from your treatment.
Your therapist may also employ the use of hot and cold therapy, modalities like ultrasound, and electrical stimulation to ease pain. These treatments are designed to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation and strengthen weakened muscles. Your therapist will work to teach you how to manage your pain and how to incorporate these strategies into your daily life, so you can feel empowered to take control of your health.
The most effective treatment plans address the underlying causes of your pain. Your therapist will create a plan that combines a variety of these treatments to manage your pain, and they will educate you on proper body mechanics, ergonomics and postural awareness. They will also suggest lifestyle modifications and dietary changes that can support your pain management efforts.
Whether you’re struggling with back pain, neck pain or knee arthritis, the team of experts at ProActive Physical Therapy is here to help. Our experienced and certified physical therapists will get to the bottom of your symptoms and design a customized treatment plan that will improve your quality of life.
Managing Pain
Pain management involves both easing pain in the short term and helping a patient develop ways to manage their pain in the long run. The first step is identifying the type of pain a patient is experiencing. This is accomplished by having a physical therapist assess their condition and determine what the cause may be.
Acute pain comes on suddenly due to some injury or disease and then fades once the tissue heals. Chronic pain, on the other hand, lasts for a long time and is often accompanied by a variety of problems. Medications are used to help ease this pain in the short term and physical therapy can offer a more permanent solution.
Physical therapists get to spend a lot of one-on-one time with their patients, which gives them the opportunity to understand their needs and goals. Using this information, physical therapists create and implement treatment plans to relieve pain and improve function. The goal is to minimize the need for surgery or prescription pain medications.
In addition to manual techniques and individualized exercises, a physical therapist can use modalities such as heat, ice, and electrical stimulation to help reduce the severity of the pain. They can also teach a patient how to do specific movements to improve posture and reduce strain on the body.
If the root of the pain is due to muscle imbalances, tightness in the fascia (connective tissue that surrounds muscles), or other issues, the physical therapist can work with the patient to correct these. They will prescribe stretches, exercises, and other treatments that will address the underlying issues.
Some patients find relief by keeping a journal of their symptoms to identify patterns and what makes the pain better or worse. Others benefit from meditation, stress reduction techniques, or other types of counseling to learn how to change their emotional reactions to pain.
New research suggests that physical therapists can play an important role in managing pain by teaching the brain how to respond differently to pain. This is called biopsychosocial treatment and it is an integral part of pain management.
Managing Stress
Physical therapy isn’t just about easing pain and helping people feel better – it can also help manage stress. Many individuals who seek treatment are suffering from chronic health conditions, which often cause a great deal of anxiety due to uncertainty about the future. In addition to this, the recovery process can be incredibly challenging, especially if it requires long periods of sitting in bed or on a chair. PT helps reduce stress by teaching patients techniques and exercises they can do at home to alleviate symptoms and feel more at ease.
During the first session, a physical therapist will evaluate the patient’s condition and develop a care plan that targets their needs. This may include hands-on treatments such as massage, manipulation, joint mobilization, electrical stimulation, and more. It’s important for the therapist to understand and empathize with the patient, so they can guide them through their anxieties as they move towards their goals. In fact, a strong client-therapist connection can be beneficial to both sides and enhance the quality of the treatment.
In addition to relieving pain, physiotherapy can help decrease the number of stress hormones in the body by promoting relaxation. This can help prevent the occurrence of headaches and nausea, improve sleep patterns, and increase overall energy. It can also boost a patient’s sense of well-being and self-esteem by encouraging them to work towards short-term goals and witness their progress. In turn, this builds a greater level of resilience and confidence, which can enable them to cope with life’s stresses more effectively.
A physical therapist can also help reduce the risk of long-term health problems by educating the patient on healthy living habits. For example, they can teach the patient ways to avoid prolonged sitting, which deconditions the body and leads to poor cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, psychological, and digestive health. This can include the use of a standing desk, walking while talking on the phone, or other simple strategies to incorporate movement throughout the day.
Physical therapists can also help patients deal with stress by connecting them with peers that are empathetic to their health journey and want to work together to manage pain and symptoms. This is a unique benefit that other healthcare professionals may not offer, and it can be a crucial aspect of stress management.
Managing Emotions
In addition to addressing the physical cause of pain, physical therapy can also help manage emotional responses. Emotional distress can contribute to anxiety and depression, which can further aggravate medical conditions like musculoskeletal disorders. Managing emotions by learning to recognize them and using coping strategies can improve mental health.
One of the most important aspects of physical therapy is a strong client-therapist connection. Perhaps no other medical professional spends as much time with their clients as physical therapists, which gives them the opportunity to get to know them beyond their injuries or illnesses. This helps build trust and fosters a positive outlook.
Moreover, physical activity, a core component of physical therapy, triggers the release of endorphins, which act as natural mood boosters and stress reducers. Furthermore, a regular exercise routine promotes better sleep, which is essential for maintaining a healthy mental state.
Incorporating mindfulness practices, such as breathing exercises and meditation, into physical therapy sessions enables patients to develop a stronger body-mind connection. This awareness of how their physical sensations are affecting their emotions empowers individuals to take control of their stress and anxiety levels.
Many physical therapy programs also involve group exercise and therapeutic activities, fostering a sense of community amongst participants. This can decrease feelings of isolation and loneliness, which can have a positive impact on mental health. In addition, physical therapists equip their patients with in-depth knowledge about their conditions and recovery processes, which empowers them to actively participate in their treatment plans.
Besides incorporating mindfulness techniques into their treatments, physical therapists also teach their patients various coping mechanisms that can be used in the future to combat stress and anxiety. These coping mechanisms include identifying negative thought patterns, reducing the frequency of panic attacks and increasing resilience. Additionally, they teach their patients relaxation strategies to enable them to fall asleep easily, a crucial factor in improving mental health. They also encourage their patients to set realistic goals that they can achieve, thus empowering them with a positive mindset and a sense of self-worth.