How Do Physical Therapists Deal With Pain?
As an athletic trainer and physical therapist, as well as a former national team swimmer, Mauricio Elizondo understands injured athletes. At 18 years old, he suffered a shoulder injury and had his appendix removed (yes, both happened at the same time!) that forced him to withdraw from his swimming national championship... more
According to the CDC, Physical Therapy is the safe and most efficient alternative to opioids for the management of most pain. Physical Therapy will get to the root cause of the pain, it will not just mask it as most medications do.
There are a few ways that Physical Therapists manage pain:
1) Exercise:
a. There is an incredible amount of literature that supports the fact that people that exercise regularly experience less pain than people that do not. According to the ACSM, 5 days a week of 30-45 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise is appropriate to promote long-term effects on health. Exercise does not need to be high-intensity all the time, and Physical Therapists can modify the exercise based on your needs.
2) Manual Therapy
a. There is enough research to suggest manual therapy as a method of pain relief. Whether it is joint mobilization, fascia and soft tissue manipulation, dry needling, or a combination, Physical Therapists choose what is most appropriate for you based on your medical history.
3) Education
a. Some people are just hurt because they do not understand what is going on with their bodies. We are here to help. By explaining you your diagnosis and prognosis, we will give you a detailed plan of care with expectations and goals that will give you peace of mind and reduce stress.
4) Collaboration
a. Although we are good, we are not great without collaborating! Sometimes we need help, and we are lucky to collaborate with other medical professionals like physicians, massage therapists, and Pilates instructors that can help us in managing your pain if our help is not enough and you need a little more help!
Have any nagging pain that you want some relief from? See us for a FREE consultation! You would be seen by a licensed Physical Therapist who would do a detailed evaluation of your problem and suggest the best plan of care possible tailored to you. Email us at info@performancesportphysio.com or better yet, call us at 727-826-7142 for more information.
