An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which tends to be highly persistent. About 61% of people who reported chronic pain in 2019 reported still suffering from pain one year later.
While doctors have often prescribed pain medications for chronic conditions, that practice has lessened since the opioid epidemic and the general reluctance of patients to begin taking prescription medications with potential side effects and addiction risks with no real exit strategy.
Physical therapy pain management techniques are becoming more widely used as a natural, drug-free way to strengthen the body and treat chronic pain in a way that promotes overall health.
Comprehensive Healthcare Group provides physical therapy in Valley Stream, NY, as part of its comprehensive healthcare and pain treatment services. Read on to learn more about physical therapy’s power in pain management strategies.
What Physical Therapy Involves
Physical therapy is a field of healthcare specifically designed to improve physical functionality and relieve pain, making it ideal for treating painful conditions. Physical therapists are highly trained to understand how the body works and analyze each patient’s pain and limitations to develop treatment plans to address individual needs.
Exercises and treatments “cross-train” over several treatment areas, including improving flexibility and strength and treating physical conditions that cause pain. As such, a skilled physical therapist doesn’t simply treat pain symptoms; they assess and address the root causes.
Physical therapy can both ease pain in the short term and help the body recover and improve limitations that are causing long-standing pain for a more permanent solution.
Understanding Chronic Pain vs. Acute Pain
Physical therapy can address both acute pain and chronic pain conditions.
Acute pain describes pain typically caused by some traumatic injury. A patient may feel immediate pain upon injury that slowly fades as the injury heals.
Chronic pain describes conditions that cause pain in a persistent and ongoing way. Unlike acute pain, a chronic injury may heal while the pain remains. Conditions like herniated discs, arthritis, nerve damage, and many diseases can cause chronic pain. In some cases, ordinary medical diagnostic testing and examinations can be inconclusive as to the specific cause of chronic pain.
Your physical therapist will ask you questions about your medical history and the pain you are experiencing to determine if you are suffering from acute or chronic pain. A physical assessment will help determine the best plan of treatment to address the sort of pain you are experiencing.
Physical Therapy as a Pain Management Strategy
Physical therapy has proven to be an effective strategy in many pain management care plans. In addition to rehabilitating injury, physical therapy can have a powerful preventative effect by improving physical function. It helps patients learn and use self-care exercises and treatment strategies that can last a lifetime.
Physical therapy can treat pain from acute injuries like those resulting from physical trauma or surgeries. Other physical therapy techniques address chronic conditions like neuropathic pain and many diseases.
Techniques Used in Physical Therapy
Physical therapists use multiple techniques to address different types of pain, including:
- Manual therapy. Physical therapists use their hands to manipulate your body through massaging or flexibility movements to manage and ease pain. Stretching under the guidance of a skilled physical therapist can relieve many forms of acute and chronic pain.
- Exercise therapy. Physical therapists are experts at how the body functions and which exercises they can assist you with during therapy sessions to learn more about your injuries. This helps them fine-tune movements that will help ease and heal painful conditions. Some exercises can involve weights and machines, while others use body weight to reduce pain and address root causes.
- Heat and cold therapies. Physical therapists use hot and cold compresses in different combinations to reduce inflammation and promote the healing of soft tissue injuries.
- Electric stimulation. Physical therapists use devices like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) machines to rehabilitate injured nerves with electrical stimulation and to disrupt pain signals sent to the brain.
- Low-impact aerobic training. Treadmill or stationary bike work can provide cardiovascular stimulation without overly stressing painful joints. This type of training can slowly rebuild strength to mitigate pain during rehabilitation.
- At-home exercises. Your physical therapist will also likely develop an at-home exercise program based on your needs. Most exercises can be done at home, and others can be done at a gym or as part of a class. All can provide lasting relief from pain.
Learn More About Physical Therapy in Oceanside, NY, and Valley Stream
Comprehensive Healthcare Group provides physical therapy in Valley Stream and Oceanside, NY. Physical therapy for pain management is available to treat many chronic conditions, leading to greater enjoyment of life and a natural return to ordinary activities.
If you want to learn more about physical therapy pain management, contact Comprehensive Healthcare Group today for an appointment.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available.
Physical Therapy for Pain Management FAQ
These are some questions we typically receive about physical therapy in Oceanside, NY, and Valley Stream.
Can Physical Therapy Help Me Avoid Surgery?
Physical therapy can help you avoid surgery for many conditions. Speak directly with your physical therapist about your specific condition, the alternatives to invasive surgery, and the uncertain recovery period that surgery involves.
Why Is Physical Therapy Better Than Taking Pain Medication?
Physical therapy is better than taking pain medication because the exercises involved promote recovery and develop strength and range of motion naturally while treating painful conditions. Medications are sometimes necessary, but they carry risks of side effects and substance abuse. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has reported the number of overdose deaths in the United States has more than doubled in the last ten years.
Does New York Require Physical Therapists To Be Licensed?
New York requires physical therapists to be licensed, and the New York State Education Department oversees the process. The physical therapists at Comprehensive Healthcare Group hold the licenses to provide physical therapy pain management treatments and are experienced in delivering top patient care.