You Don’t Have to Live in Pain
Did you know that physical therapy is a natural form of pain relief that can be used to treat a wide range of conditions?
Unfortunately, many people do not realize that physical therapy treatments are an excellent way to reduce chronic pain and other recurring symptoms until they have exhausted other traditional treatment options, such as surgery or prescription painkillers.
If you have a condition that is causing you pain, you might be a good candidate for physical therapy. Continue reading to learn more about common conditions that can be treated with physical therapy, as well as some of our experienced physical therapist’s top recommendations for natural healing.
Evidence supporting the success of physical therapy
Osteoporosis is one of the ten most common illnesses, and clinical studies support the benefits of physical therapy for health conditions like osteoporosis. Patients were recruited from the osteoporosis outpatient clinics at Klinikum Südstadt and the University Hospital of Rostock to participate in osteoporosis-focused physical therapy.
44 osteoporosis patients completed a twice-weekly 30-minute intensive exercise program over a three-month period. Physical therapy reduced pain and improved function, with sling exercise patients benefiting the most.
The combination of functional enhancement and pain relief resulted in better health overall – this study is just one of many studies that demonstrate the health benefits of PT!
Passive and active physical therapy treatments
The purpose of passive physical therapy is to help pain become more manageable, and hopefully to alleviate it altogether. Physical therapists work hard to reduce pain as much as possible.
Passive PT can include any combination of these specialty treatments, as deemed fit by your physical therapist:
- Iontophoresis
- Electrical stimulation, such as TENS Units
- Hydrotherapy
- Ultrasound
- Dry needling
- Ice and heat therapies
- Massage
- Manual therapy
Active therapy focuses on targeted exercises and stretches in order to improve function in the affected area.
The purpose of active treatments is to provide exercises that the patient can do on their own in the later stages of their physical therapy treatment plan. In fact, many active physical therapy treatments are designed so the patient can perform them on their own after their PT sessions are over.
Once your pain or discomfort subsided enough that your physical therapist believes you are ready for active PT, he or she will set up an exercise schedule specific to your needs.
The exercises prescribed in an active treatment plan are all geared toward helping you gain back your flexibility, range of motion, and muscle strength. These exercises will help provide support to the painful area and will guide you further in your recovery process.
5 common conditions that a physical therapist can treat
1. Back Pain
Back pain is one of the biggest reasons that Americans visit the doctor each year. Back pain can be the result of a wide variety of different injuries, illnesses, and chronic conditions. You may be experiencing back pain due to an overuse injury, a degenerative disease, sports injury, or other common environmental factors.
But whatever the cause, there’s a good chance that your back pain is preventing you from completing simple everyday tasks like getting out of bed or climbing the stairs without feeling pain. Physical therapy can help to address the root cause of your pain, increase mobility, reduce inflammation and much more.
2. Headaches
Recurring headaches are no laughing matter and can make getting through the day seem nearly impossible.
In many cases, frequent headaches are a sign of injury in the neck or back. Working with a physical therapist to target the cause of your recurring headaches can reduce the severity of your head pain or eventually eliminate them altogether.
3. Neck Pain
It’s common to experience neck pain for a variety of different reasons. You may notice neck pain spring up after an auto accident or as a result of poor posture. Neck pain is often very difficult to cope with and treat with traditional medicine.
However, physical therapy and massage can relieve the muscles in the neck, reduce swelling, and help to restore your natural mobility.
4. Joint Pain
Arthritis and other forms of joint pain can increase in severity as we age.
However, people of all ages are at risk of developing joint pain, especially following another traumatic injury. For those who are overweight or obese, joint pain can become a chronic health issue that prevents one from enjoying the simple things in life like taking a walk after dinner or getting in and out of the car with ease.
Working with a physical therapist to develop a personalized treatment plan can help to manage your joint pain and other symptoms naturally.
5. Traumatic Injury
After experiencing a traumatic injury, your body requires plenty of time to heal and recover. But in today’s busy world, many people must get back to work as soon as possible following an injury.
Physical therapy can help your body to heal more quickly and efficiently after a traumatic injury or surgery. Physical therapy is an ideal post-surgical healing option and is designed to help you reach your rehabilitation goals without the use of prescription pain medications.
Get started on a physical therapy treatment plan today
If you or a loved one is experiencing recurring pain as a result of an injury or a degenerative condition, physical therapy can help your body heal naturally.
Do you want to learn more about the advantages of physical therapy for pain management and healing? For more information, please contact Preferred Physical Therapy Associates to make an appointment for your initial consultation today.
