Physical therapy is the best possible form of care for many different conditions and injuries. Whether you have just started waking up with generalized aches and pains, or have suffered from chronic pain for a long time, a physical therapist can help ease your symptoms and teach you why they occurred in the first place.
Tons of things can lead to aches and pains, such as leading a sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, inadequate diet, or injury. The bad news is that the pain will not go away by itself. The good news is that you can be put back on the right track by a physical therapist!
Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of physical therapy.
Why am I in pain?
Have you ever found yourself groaning in pain when you first try to get up in the morning? You might find yourself wondering if the problem is your mattress or your bed frame, but nine times out of ten, the problem is caused by something entirely different!
Here’s what your physical therapist would tell you if you suffer from generalized aches and pains when you wake up in the morning.
Inflammation of the tissues builds up during the day in our bodies. This can be very subtle and even by the end of the day, you might not realize it is there. But the inflammation will thicken and settle into your muscles as you lie down and go to sleep. This causes immobilization in the joints which leads to pain when you wake up. Day after day, the same cycle will repeat itself.
Eventually, if you do not make any lifestyle changes to fix the issue, chronic pain will set in. This is why calling our office for a consultation before the pain gets a chance to become that serious and debilitating, is a smart idea.
How can physical therapy help?
Physical therapy is a safe, natural, and effective way to combat pain symptoms caused by various conditions and injuries. A physical therapist is a trained movement specialist who can not only treat and ease your symptoms but also prevent them from coming back by showing you how to move your body in the proper ways.
Your first visit with a physical therapist will involve a conversation about your symptoms and medical history, as well as some simple tests. Be prepared to answer questions about past injuries that may be contributing to your current aches and pains.
What you eat in your diet, exercise routine and daily activities will also be discussed. This is to give your therapist an idea of the possible cause or causes of your aches and pains.
You will then be given a series of tests, based on your description of your symptoms. These will involve posture and range of motion exercises, and possibly some strength and resistance tests.
When your therapist knows where you are experiencing aches and pains and has determined the likely causes, your personalized physical therapy treatment plan will be drawn up. It’s that simple!
Physical therapy treatment methods
Just like any other medical profession, a physical therapist has a wide range of tactics and techniques that can be deployed to help with pain management.
Here are just a few:
- Movement therapy and exercise
- Cold laser therapy to release endorphins
- Microcurrent stimulation to release serotonin
- Manual therapy
- Deep tissue massage
- Joint and bone manipulation
Within each of those categories, your physical therapist has a lot of tools and techniques at their disposal. For example, movement therapy and exercise might mean running on a treadmill or working in a swimming pool. It all depends on your physical condition, the source of your aches and pains, and the treatment methods that are most likely to meet with results.
More tips for chronic pain relief…
You don’t have to keep popping over-the-counter pain relievers to manage your symptoms. If your life has been drastically changed my pain to the point that you feel you’re running out of options to manage it, it’s time to see a physical therapist for help.
Your physical therapist will also work to educate you on ways to keep aches and pains at bay, by living a healthier lifestyle. This can range from advice on staying hydrated and enjoying better nutrition, to exercises and stretches you can do at home.
The goal is to get you to the point where you are motivated to stay healthy without the need for regular physical therapy sessions. All of this will contribute to solving your aches and pains.
So what are you waiting for? Get back on track and lead the kind of life you deserve. Contact Total Care Physical Therapy today to schedule your first appointment with a trained and licensed physical therapist.
