Managing Chronic Pain with Physiotherapy
Do your regular activities are impacted by persistent pain? Do you want to control your pain without using drugs or surgery in a natural and efficient way? If so, you might want to think about physiotherapy as a treatment option. A health profession called physiotherapy aids people with a variety of physical ailments, including chronic pain, in regaining function and mobility, reducing pain and inflammation, and generally improving their quality of life. In this article, we will discuss the definition of chronic pain, how physiotherapy may treat it, its advantages, and where to find the finest physiotherapy for chronic pain in Oakville.
What is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is described as pain that persists for three months or longer, or after an accident or sickness has had time to heal. A variety of conditions, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, nerve damage, cancer, infections, injuries, or operations, can produce chronic pain, which can affect any portion of the body. A person’s physical, mental, and emotional health can also be affected by chronic pain in a variety of ways, including by limiting their ability to move around and perform daily tasks, interfering with their sleep, and causing isolation and low self-esteem, among other things. Because chronic pain frequently does not react well to standard therapies like drugs or surgery, treating it can be difficult. As a result, physiotherapy is a common alternative or supplementary therapy used by patients with chronic pain to control their discomfort and enhance their wellbeing.
How Physiotherapy Can Help with Chronic Pain
In contrast to conventional medicine, which focuses only on treating symptoms, physical therapy targets all aspects of the human body. With the goal of offering both long-term comfort and prevention, physical therapy tries to address the underlying causes of chronic pain. The use of manual treatment, exercise therapy, electrotherapy, education, and counsel are just a few of the strategies that physiotherapy might employ to treat chronic pain.
Let’s look more closely at each of these methods and how they can alleviate chronic pain
Manual Therapy
Manual therapy is a technique that involves hands-on manipulation or mobilization of the joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, or nerves. Manual therapy can help with chronic pain by improving blood circulation, reducing muscle tension and spasms, increasing joint range of motion and flexibility, decreasing inflammation and swelling, releasing scar tissue and adhesions, stimulating nerve endings and endorphins (natural painkillers), and correcting biomechanical imbalances. Manual therapy can also help with chronic pain by providing relaxation and stress relief. Some examples of manual therapy techniques are massage therapy, trigger point therapy, myofascial release therapy, joint mobilization or manipulation, neural mobilization or manipulation, dry needling, acupuncture, cupping therapy, etc.
Exercise Therapy
Exercise therapy is a technique that involves prescribed physical activities that are tailored to the person’s condition, goals, abilities, and preferences. Exercise therapy can help with chronic pain by strengthening the muscles, bones, and joints, improving posture and alignment, enhancing balance and coordination, increasing endurance and stamina, promoting weight management and cardiovascular health, boosting mood and energy levels, and preventing further injuries or complications. Exercise therapy can also help with chronic pain by providing a sense of achievement and empowerment. Some examples of exercise therapy activities are stretching exercises, strengthening exercises, aerobic exercises, functional exercises, balance exercises, core stability exercises, etc.
Electrotherapy
Electrotherapy is a technique that involves the use of electrical currents or impulses to stimulate the nerves, muscles, or tissues. Electrotherapy can help with chronic pain by blocking pain signals from reaching the brain, increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery, reducing muscle spasm and stiffness, accelerating tissue healing and regeneration, modulating inflammation, and swelling, and enhancing the effects of manual therapy or exercise therapy. Electrotherapy can also help with chronic pain by providing distraction and a pleasant sensation. Some examples of electrotherapy modalities are transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), interferential current (IFC), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), ultrasound therapy, laser therapy, shockwave therapy, etc.
Education and Advice
Education and advice are techniques that involve providing information and guidance to the person about their condition, treatment, self-management, lifestyle, and prevention. Education and advice can help with chronic pain by increasing the person’s knowledge and understanding of their pain, empowering them to take an active role in their recovery, improving their coping skills and strategies, enhancing their motivation and confidence, reducing their fear and anxiety, and preventing or reducing the risk of recurrence or worsening of their pain. Education and advice can also help with chronic pain by providing support and reassurance. Some examples of education and advice topics are pain physiology and mechanisms, pain management techniques, goal setting and pacing, activity modification and ergonomics, relaxation and breathing techniques, sleep hygiene and nutrition, stress management and mindfulness, etc.
Benefits of Physiotherapy for Chronic Pain
Physiotherapy can provide many benefits for people with chronic pain, such as:
Reduced Pain and Inflammation
Physiotherapy can help reduce pain and inflammation by using various techniques that target the source of the pain, improve blood circulation, decrease muscle tension, increase joint mobility, stimulate endorphins, block pain signals, modulate inflammation, accelerate tissue healing, etc. By reducing pain and inflammation, physiotherapy can help improve the person’s comfort and fu
Improved Mobility and Function
Physiotherapy can help improve mobility and function by using various techniques that strengthen the muscles, bones, and joints, improve posture and alignment, enhance balance and coordination, increase endurance and stamina, promote weight management and cardiovascular health, correct biomechanical imbalances, prevent further injuries or complications, etc. By improving mobility and function, physiotherapy can help the person perform their daily activities with ease and independence.
Enhanced Quality of Life and Well-being
It can enhance quality of life and well-being by using various techniques that boost mood and energy levels, provide relaxation and stress relief, increase self-esteem and confidence, provide a sense of achievement and empowerment, improve coping skills and strategies, reduce fear and anxiety, provide support and reassurance, etc. By enhancing quality of life and well-being, physiotherapy can help the person enjoy their life more fully.
Prevention of Further Complications
Physiotherapy can help prevent further complications by using various techniques that address the underlying causes of chronic pain, provide long-term relief and prevention, educate the person about their condition, treatment, self-management, lifestyle, and prevention, etc. By preventing further complications, physiotherapy can help avoid the need for more invasive or costly treatments like medications or surgery.
Where to Find the Best Physiotherapy for Chronic Pain in Oakville
If you are looking for the best physiotherapy for chronic pain in Oakville, you should visit Velocity Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre. Velocity Sports Medicine is a multidisciplinary clinic that offers a wide range of services to help you with your chronic pain and other health conditions. Some of the services they offer are physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, osteopathy, sports medicine, concussion management, etc.
We are located in 232 South Service Road East Unit A, Oakville Ontario L6J 2X5 and we are open from Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 8 pm and on Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm.
Conclusion
In conclusion, chronic pain is a common and complex condition that can affect your physical, mental, and emotional health. However, you don’t have to suffer in silence or rely on medications or surgery to manage your pain. Physiotherapy can offer you a natural and effective way to reduce your pain and inflammation, improve your mobility and function, enhance your quality of life and well-being, and prevent further complications. If you are looking for the best physiotherapy for chronic pain in Oakville, you should visit our Velocity Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre. We have a team of highly qualified and experienced professionals who can provide you with personalized and evidence-based care. To book an appointment visit our website or call us at (905) 842-9797.
Don’t let chronic pain stop you from living your life to the fullest. Try physiotherapy today and see the difference for yourself.
