Reasons to Consider Physical Therapy for Chronic Pain
Physical therapy is often considered to be one of the best choices to make whenever you are suffering from long-term pain, others referred to as chronic pain or an injury. Physical therapy can help patients to feel stronger and makes them stronger. You must speak to your doctor, who can recommend you a physical therapist.
In often cases, you will need more than one visit. A physical therapist is someone who has a lot of training and can show you how to best manage your chronic pain. A physical therapist is not only an expert in treating pain but can also treat its source. The areas of weakness and stiffness will be examined, but your physical therapist will also treat areas that might be adding additional stress to the place that hurts.
During a physical therapy session, different methods are often combined. For example, you might be instructed to do low-impact aerobic training, which can increase your heart rate, while protecting your joints. You might need to use a stationary bike and warm up or walk fast, instead of running. Warming up is very important before doing strengthening exercises. For strengthening exercises, you might need to use machines that are found at your physical therapist’s office, a resistance band, or your body weight.
Some effective body-weight exercises include squats, pushups, or lunges. It might be important to work on your core muscles, such as the glutes, belly, and back, but other parts of your body as well. Apart from strengthening exercises, a physical therapy session might also include pain-relieving exercises. Such exercises will target the areas that hurt, making you stronger and more flexible. Stretching is also very beneficial and your physical therapist will make sure that you stretch properly before and after exercising. You might also get a lot of exercises, which you can do at home.
Your physical therapist might also rely on other techniques. Heat and ice packs might be used, as ice can able to provide relief from inflammation, whereas heat can warm up the muscles and allow them to move better. Both heat and ice therapy can help to alleviate pain. Massaging areas that are hurt, injured, or sore might not feel relaxing to you, however, your physical therapist will do it in a way that is safe and helpful for you. If you suffer from pain, you must let your physical therapist know. Although massages might not always feel comfortable, you shouldn’t have to deal with severe pain during them.
Another possible option used during a physical therapy session is TENs, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. It uses a device that sends low-voltage electric current to the skin over the area that hurts. Ultrasound can be used to send sound waves to the areas that hurt. Both options can offer relief as they block pain messages that go to the brain. Physical therapy is safe and shouldn’t hurt. However, there are parts of the body that might be used and that are injured or in chronic pain, which might make physical therapy hard and a challenge. You might, for example, feel sore after such a session.
Speak to your physical therapist about how you feel and what you feel comfortable with. A physical therapy session will be made based on your needs. Everyone responds differently to a physical therapy session. There are a lot of factors that can affect how effective it will be, such as body type, alignment, habits, and daily activities. What are 7 reasons why physical therapy should be considered for chronic pain?
Firstly, physical therapy can eliminate or reduce pain. It can restore muscle function and joint function and can help to prevent pain from recurring. Secondly, physical therapy can help you avoid surgery. If it is successful in eliminating your pain and helping you heal from an injury, surgery might not be necessary. However, if your condition doesn’t improve after non-invasive treatment, it is better to contact a neurosurgeon in New Jersey to evaluate your condition.
Physical therapy is also able to improve mobility. If you have issues walking, standing, and moving, no matter how old you are, physical therapy can be helpful. Strengthening exercises and stretching exercises can help you to get back your ability to move. Your therapy sessions will be made to fit your needs, for example, if you need a cane, crutches, or other assistive devices. You must agree with the treatment plan that your physical therapist suggests to you, as this will also mean that you are more likely to stick to it.
Physical therapy is not only a great option for chronic pain after an injury, but it can also help patients restore movement after a stroke. It can help to strengthen weekend parts of the body and can improve balance and gait. It can help patients to recover after a sports injury and can decrease the possibility of suffering from future injuries, such as stress fractures for distance runners. Patients who undergo physical therapy can also help improve their balance, which can end up preventing future falls. This is especially important for those who suffer from vestibular system issues, joint issues, or other conditions, that might affect their balance and make them more prone to falls.
Those who suffer from vascular conditions or diabetes can also profit from a physical therapy session. Exercising can help to control blood sugar levels. Many diabetes patients also suffer from a loss of sensation in their feet and legs. Physical therapy can help them, as it can show them proper foot care and can show them how to prevent future issues.
Physical therapy can help as it can relieve pain with the use of several techniques, which can improve function and movement, which might be impaired by a disability or by an injury. Physical therapy sessions will use a combination of techniques, such as strengthening, stretching, pain-relieving exercises, TENS, ultrasound, heat and ice therapy, and much more. Speak to your doctor about the possibility of undergoing physical therapy treatment. Your doctor can refer you to a physical therapist, who can come up with a plan to best fit your individual needs.
