How Can Physical Therapy Help Pain?
Whether you are suffering from acute pain, chronic pain, or a combination of both, there are several ways that physical therapy can help you. This article will outline some of the common ways that advanced pain therapy can be used to help treat pain.
Acute Pain
Often, people wonder what the best way to treat an injury is. While there are a variety of different methods, it is usually a good idea to get professional medical advice before making a decision.
Physical therapy is an excellent resource for people who have suffered an orthopedic injury.
Physical therapists are trained to help patients improve their function, reduce pain and improve mobility. They can also show patients how to perform specific exercises to improve their condition.
People can find physical therapists through referrals or in. Many therapists work with other healthcare professionals to provide the best treatment.
Chronic Pain
Physical therapy can also help with chronic pain. Many people suffer from chronic pain, which may have symptoms such as depression, limited mobility, and anxiety. If left untreated, chronic pain can be a debilitating condition that can affect the entire quality of a person’s life.
Physical therapy may be the best treatment for chronic pain. However, it does not work for everyone. A doctor may prescribe medications or surgery to help relieve pain. Some medications can be addictive, and others may not work.
Dry Needling
Using dry needling in physical therapy for pain can be beneficial. This type of treatment can reduce pain, improve movement and function, and eliminate trigger points. Dry needling is a specialized technique that stimulates muscles and fascia. The needle may be placed superficially or deeply into the muscle tissue.
Dry needling can be used for a variety of musculoskeletal problems, including sports injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, knee osteoarthritis, tennis elbow, tension-type headaches, and hip pain. Dry needling creates biochemical changes in local tissues, which improves movement and decreases pain. It is a relatively safe procedure but can cause some side effects.
There is no definitive evidence that dry needling is effective for treating MTrPs. However, treating conditions may be more effective if physical therapists focus on non-trigger point locations.
Heat or Ice
Choosing the proper method of treatment can have a significant effect on the overall comfort of the body. Using ice and heat in physical therapy for pain can help reduce inflammation, relieve pain and promote healing. The right choice can make a big difference in the amount of time it takes to get better.
The key to choosing the correct method is understanding when to use each method. Heat and ice are helpful for different types of pain. Heat can help loosen tendons and muscles, while ice can ease pain and swelling.
While ice and heat may be helpful in different situations, using them in the wrong order could make the pain worse. Ice is often used as the first step in inflammation, while heat is usually used as a subacute or regional treatment.
