Are You Ready to Live Life Comfortably?
Whether you have recently started waking up with generalized aches and pains or you’ve been suffering from chronic pain for a long time, physical therapy has been proven to be one of the best treatment methods for you.
Sedentary lifestyles, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, or injuries can all contribute to aches and pains. The bad news is that the pain probably won’t go away on its own. The good news is that a physical therapist can get you back on the right track and help you get rid of your aches and pains. Contact us today to learn more!
How can physical therapy help relieve pain?
As stated by the APTA website, “The White House has announced that APTA is among the organizations that have joined a public-private partnership to combat opioid usage and prescription drug abuse, and that the association will reach out to the public and its members to deliver the message that pain can be effectively managed through conservative, non drug approaches.
Physical therapists can help individuals manage pain, and greater use of physical therapy could make a real impact on the tragic levels of drug abuse in this country—abuse that often begins with a prescription for pain medication.”
Physical therapy has a wide range of tactics and techniques that can be deployed to help with pain management. Here are just a few:
- Manual therapy
- Microcurrent stimulation to release serotonin
- Cold laser therapy to release endorphins
- Movement therapy and exercise
- Joint and bone manipulation
- Tissue massage
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.
A physical therapist can help determine the source of your pain
Your first visit to the 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 contribute to your current discomfort. Your diet, exercise routines, 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 a description of your symptoms. This may involve posture and range of motion exercises, and possibly some strength and resistance tests. Once your therapist knows where you are experiencing your pain and has identified the probable causes, your personalized physical therapy plan will be developed.
What could be causing your aches and pains?
If you have generalized aches and pains when you wake up in the morning, here’s what your physical therapist will likely tell you: our bodies build up inflammation of the tissues throughout the day. This can be extremely subtle, and you may not notice it at the end of the day.
But when we lie down and go to sleep, the inflammation can thicken and settle in your muscles. This, in turn, immobilizes your joints and may lead to aches and pains when you wake up. The same process is repeated day after day.
Eventually, chronic pain may occur if you do not make any lifestyle changes to correct the problem. That’s why it’s a great idea to contact a physical therapist for a consultation, before the pain leads to more serious health problems.
Get started on a PT treatment plan today
Your physical therapist will work to educate you about 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 exercising and stretching at home.
The goal is to get you to the point where you’re motivated to stay healthy without the need for regular physical therapy sessions. All of this will help you to solve your discomfort.
If aches and pains begin to lower your quality of life, it’s time to take that first positive step by consulting with a physical therapist. Please contact Bullhead Physical Therapy today to schedule your first appointment with a trained and licensed physical therapist.
