Physiotherapy has worked wonders in treating different muscular, bone and joint issues. When it comes to chronic pain management, nothing can beat physiotherapy in helping the patient to combat the pain and live a healthy lifestyle.
What is chronic pain?
Chronic Pain refers to a condition when a patient suffers from pain for an abnormally long time. In case of soft tissue injury, patients usually have to bear the pain for a couple of weeks or months. If the pain continues for four to six months and even more than that, it can be characterized as chronic pain. This chronic pain is not only frustrating but it obstructs many daily chores in the life of the patient. If such pains are not addressed correctly, they can prove to be devastating.
When a person is suffering from chronic pain then healers give more emphasis on reducing the pain rather than treating the root cause of the pain. Because of this approach patient is either given a pain killer, massage, or treatments like acupuncture. But the effects of such treatments usually wear off soon and they cannot be considered as a long-term solution to the problem.
How physiotherapy can help in chronic pain management?
Physiotherapy adopts a holistic approach to the treatment of chronic pain. Physiotherapists work in association with doctors and psychologists, not only relieving the patient from chronic pain but to improve the patient’s overall quality of life.
Some of the highlights of physiotherapy in the treatment of chronic pain are discussed below:
1. Physiotherapists employ various methods of manipulating the affected area and mobilizing the soft tissue of that place which plays an important role in increasing flexibility and restoring the elasticity of the soft tissues.
2. Manual therapy, electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, or laser treatment is given to the affected area as per the requirement and endurance of the patient.
3. Some physiotherapists also incorporate acupuncture/ needling as a part of the entire treatment program.
4. Apart from these physical treatment techniques, they also employ various relaxation techniques such as meditation and breathing exercises to relax the nervous tension of the patient. These relaxation techniques also help the patient to have a better quality of sleep which in turn helps in relieving the pain.
5. Finally, for the correction of the posture of the patient, it is important that he/she has the right equipment such as the right shoes, office chair, stretching belt as advised by the physiotherapist.
If the pain persists, even after the above techniques, consult your doctor.