If you live with chronic pain or pain lasting three months or longer, you are not alone. In fact, according to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, approximately 100 million Americans live with chronic pain. Unfortunately, that also means that the dependency on prescription medications is continuously growing. In 2013, doctors across the U.S. prescribed nearly a quarter of a billion opioid prescriptions – that’s roughly a bottle per person in the United States.
The opioid crisis we’re all too aware of today results from this need for pain-management medicines. When taken in significant doses or for long periods, opioids are both hazardous and addicting. As a result, many people in the United States are looking for safer pain management options.
Physical therapy at Physical Therapy & Injury Specialists is a holistic, safe, and non-invasive way to treat chronic pain. To learn more about how physical therapy can help you find relief without the need for dangerous pain-management drugs, contact our clinic today to schedule an appointment with a specialist!
How can I benefit from physical therapy?
Our physical therapists are mobility specialists ready to help you with your chronic pain symptoms. They will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs to deliver the most effective passive and active therapy treatments for your illness. Physical therapy has numerous advantages; nevertheless, the following are the top five:
1. Physical therapy helps improve physical activity.
Physical therapy can be an enjoyable experience that might motivate you to participate in pain management. Physical therapy sessions can run anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, allowing you to work closely with your therapist to reach your goals. This treatment method is the only risk-free, active, and natural technique of pain management that has a long-term benefit.
2. Physical therapy is supported by credible, medical-based research.
Rigorous study and intense research are just two of the many ways physical therapy successes have been proven. These studies have provided credible evidence toward physical therapy treatments, illustrating how they can significantly reduce many pain-related conditions. Implementing care backed by scientific research allows physical therapists to improve their patient outcomes significantly.
3. Physical therapy treats pain at its source.
Physical therapy’s success is partly due to the fact that it addresses the root of the problem rather than simply hiding it. Pills may be simpler to swallow for pain relief, but their effectiveness is fleeting. Many medications only provide pain relief for 12 to 24 hours, so you’ll have to keep popping tablets if you want to keep feeling better. It essentially hides the discomfort while failing to address the underlying issue.
Fortunately, physical therapy does. Your physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation at your initial appointment to determine where the pain stems from and the best treatments for it. Physical therapy gets to the root of the problem to provide long-term relief, whereas medication only works short-term.
4. Physical therapy treatments have little-to-no side effects.
Many people think that physical therapy will cause them pain and make them feel worse than before. This is not true!
Some common treatments that physical therapists provide include massage, ultrasound, joint mobilization, electrical nerve stimulation, and diathermy. These are all-natural treatments that have a shallow risk of side effects, especially when compared to other pain relief methods, such as surgery and medication.
5. Physical therapists prescribe stretches and exercises to each patient’s needs.
In addition to your passive treatments, your physical therapist will create an active exercise plan for you that is specifically tailored to your recovery process. Physical activity can help reduce your pain significantly and reduce swelling, improve range of motion, promote healing, and increase overall strength and endurance.
Give our clinic a call today for help
Are you living with pain? Are you looking for a natural way to treat your pain? If so, look no further. We can help you get the treatment you need so you can live a pain-free life without the risks of opioids!
