Physical therapy is one of the best options for a patient to manage chronic pain. Physical therapy can make a real and tangible difference in chronic pain from neuropathic, muscular, and skeletal issues. It is an effective pain management tool for osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic headaches. Participating in physical therapy and exercise two to three times per week will help reduce your chronic pain by reinforcing joint stability, muscle strengthening, endurance, and muscle and joint flexibility. Establishing an exercise routine and therapeutic exercise schedule in your week will help you manage chronic pain, move and function better, as well as help the body to heal itself.
There are many aspects to the range of physical therapy that one can pursue. Massage is part of the PT process, as is manual therapy using tools or hands on the soft tissue. Exercise and movement therapy supervised and guided by a physical therapist can be utilized to decrease chronic pain, with a number of different methods and exercises used.
Areas of focus include:
- Post surgical rehabilitation
- Joint replacement therapy
- Scar management
- Functional assessment
- Functional training
- Sports training
- Agility and coordination
- Balance training
- Therapeutic exercise
- Stretching and strengthening
- Postural assessment and training
- Sport specific exercise
- All pre and post-surgical care