Will Physical Therapy Help With My Pain?

Jun 25
08:29

2012

James Smith S

James Smith S

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

Physical therapy can treat various types of pain and works very effectively when combined with passive therapy modalities.

mediaimage

Physical therapy is the ideal treatment for myofascial or muscle pain. It can treat various types of pain – back and neck pain,Will Physical Therapy Help With My Pain? Articles spine and joint conditions, and sport injuries. The physical therapist carefully evaluates the patient to correctly pinpoint the trigger points and areas of muscle shortening. Active and passive therapies are then recommended to treat the issue. One question that patients tend to ask is “will physical therapy help with my pain?’ Active physical therapy exercises combined with passive therapy modalities such as trigger point injections, medications, functional training, electrotherapeutic modalities and more, offer most people great relief.

Physical Therapy Rehabilitation with Passive and Active Modalities

Treatment starts with gentle stretching programs and active range of motion exercises. For instance, if your issue is back pain, the therapist could recommend performing knee to chest exercises, hurdle stretches, abdominal curls, back and hip extensions as well as muscle strengthening exercises for the spine. These exercises are meant to help the muscles regain a more normal length and inactivate trigger points and taut bands. However, care should be taken to avoid over-stretching.

Besides these active exercises in which you play an active role, there are several passive modalities involved in physical therapy rehabilitation. These include:

  • Massage and Myofascial Release

  • Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

  • Ice or heat to eliminate muscle spasm and inflammation

  • Ultrasound to treat soft tissue injuries

  • Rehabilitation

  • Traction

All these modalities are designed to help improve your ability to accomplish an effective muscle stretch during your active exercise program. Besides this, your physical therapy program would also involve behavioral strategies to help you cope with and manage pain as well as injury prevention education.

You should be aware that you might experience a mild increase in symptoms when you start the treatment – this is normal with increased activity and is not harmful. Your condition will improve as treatment progresses.

Get the Benefit of Professional Physical Therapy Services

If your pain is serious, locate an established physical therapy rehabilitation center. This would ensure professional pain management services after a proper evaluation of the root causes of your pain. A multispecialty pain management center focuses on the following:

  • Detection and treatment of unresolved medical issues

  • Restoration of physical functioning and mobility

  • Return to occupational and social functioning, and productive employment

  • Avoidance of surgical options and unnecessary medication

  • Enhancement of coping mechanism and independence

Your physical therapist will work with professionals from other disciplines such as neurology and orthopedics to provide you with an individualized plan. Physical therapy exercises in conjunction with various other passive treatments would help ease your pain.