Physiotherapy’s Role When it Comes to Chronic Pain

If you suffer from chronic pain, then you know how debilitating it can be. You’re always on the lookout for a solution, and it can be tiresome and exhausting. Chronic pain is categorized as pain that lasts for three months or longer. There are different ways in which chronic pain presents itself, which include heightened sensitivity to pain, hyperalgesia, and allodynia. Those suffering from chronic pain have a poorer quality of life, as it impacts various aspects of their lives such as sleep, work, and the ability to interact with others. It has also been linked with other health issues such as anxiety and depression. Physiotherapy is a great addition to chronic pain treatment plans. 

Physiotherapists are taught to understand chronic pain and the limitations and dysfunction that it ensues. Patients working with physiotherapists are able to treat their pain with a holistic approach to improve their quality of life. After assessing your pain a physiotherapist will work with you to determine a treatment plan that suits your lifestyle and will see benefits from. 

How Can Physiotherapy Treat Chronic Pain?

Manual Therapy

If you have little to no mobility due to chronic pain, your joints will begin to feel stiff, which can be very uncomfortable. Your physiotherapist can help you regain mobility by manipulating or mobilizing your joints.

Hot and Cold Therapy

Hot and cold therapy is good for desensitizing pain. Heat applied to the affected areas will relax your muscles, encourage circulation, and increase blood flow effectively reducing pain in the process. Cold therapy, on the other hand, will reduce blood flow to a specific area and numb it, which limits the pain messages sent to the pain receptors in your brain.

Soft Tissue Treatment

Your physiotherapist may recommend soft tissue treatments such as massages and trigger point therapy. Sometimes, soft tissue treatments can be used to desensitize the areas where patients experience pain.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a traditional ancient Chinese medicine that can be a great alternative option when looking to treat chronic pain. Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points of the body, usually with a small needle penetrating the skin. Studies have found that acupuncture is effective in treating chronic pain in the neck and back. Physiotherapists will need to get additional training in acupuncture in order to offer it as a treatment plan. 

If you or someone that you know suffers from chronic pain, you may want to consider trying physiotherapy in addition to your current treatment plan. At Pro Fusion Rehab, we have experienced and qualified physiotherapists that work with you to determine the best course of action to take to reduce or eliminate your chronic pain so you can get back to living your life. 

Related: What is the difference between Physiotherapy and Massage Therapy?