Physical therapists are movement experts who specialize in treating pain and improving quality of life through practical care, patient education, and prescribed movement. They help people control or eliminate pain and, in many cases, reduce the need for surgery and pain relievers, such as opioids. Physical therapists are experts not only in treating pain, but also in its source. The doctor will look for areas of weakness or stiffness that may be adding tension to areas that hurt.
And they'll treat those areas with certain exercises to ease the pain and help you move better. The CDC recommends safe alternatives, such as physical therapy, to control most pain. Exercising before surgery improves pain and function results. The physical therapist's role is to assess the cause of chronic pain and develop strategies to reduce it. They are a type of health professional trained to help people maximize their mobility and functionality.
A physical therapist evaluates the person and their condition to treat diseases and injuries related to the musculoskeletal (bones and muscles), neurological (brain), cardiopulmonary (heart and lungs), and tegumentary (skin) systems. When you're looking for pain relief and your doctor recommends physical therapy, your physical therapist has a wide range of treatment options. Physical therapy is generally recommended to reduce pain when chronic pain occurs or when pain accompanies loss of mobility and function due to an event, such as a stroke or car accident. Physical therapy is often one of the best options you can take when you have long-term pain (also called chronic pain) or an injury. Physical therapy includes techniques that help control pain, improve mobility, facilitate recovery from injuries, and prevent future damage. Physical therapy is a rehabilitative health treatment that uses a variety of methods, rather than medications, to relieve pain.
Passive physical therapy treatments involve the patient remaining immobile while the treatments are being applied and are effective in helping to relieve pain immediately. Studies have shown that both types of physical therapy treatments can be effective, and integrating both into a treatment plan can be especially effective for treating certain conditions, such as arthritis, low back pain, and neck pain. Physical therapists have a wide range of treatment options, allowing them to adapt the treatment plan to the specific needs of the patient. This will be gentle and your therapist will make sure you are preheated and that you don't stretch too much. The physical therapist helps move the limb with a greater range of motion and beyond the point of pain in each session. Physical therapy and occupational therapy achieved a significant increase in the prevalence of chronic and post-surgical pain treatment.
In addition, physical therapists can help people better understand their pain and reduce the fear that the condition can cause. APTA has been actively involved in raising public awareness of the benefits of physical therapy in the treatment of pain. In complementary articles, the authors explore the factors that drive PiP (Pain Intervention Program) and offer a model for use in patients suffering from chronic pain.
