The treatments that a patient receives in a physical therapy program
cover a whole range of active and passive therapies to increase muscle
and joint flexibility and improve range of motion. Patients suffering
from chronic pain can get great relief from well-planned therapeutic
exercises as well as various passive modalities such as massage, TENS,
ultrasound intervention, and more.
Physical Therapy Rehabilitation – Brief Overview
Chronic
pain can be debilitating and crippling. Your best option is to approach
a well-known physical therapy rehabilitation center for specialized
treatment. The therapies recommended would include a combination of the
following:
• Therapeutic exercises: These are
designed to stretch and strengthen muscles. Other important physical
therapy exercises focus on balance, joint control, and muscle
re-training.
• Myofascial release massage: This
is hands-on treatment combining light stretching and massage. It
relieves pain enhances the flexibility of the stretched muscles.
Pressure is applied at specific points to release the tension from the
fibrous bands of the muscles, bones, nerves and joints. This therapy can
relieve muscle and joint soreness and improve body posture.
• TENS or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation:
This is a non-invasive, passive treatment that involves the passing of
electrical current to specific nerves. The physical therapist places
electrode patches on the skin in the treatment area and a mild current
is passed from the stimulator through these patches. This gentle
stimulation using electrical current stimulates the body’s endorphins or
natural pain killers to ease pain and stiffness and improve mobility.
• Heat and Ice treatment:
While heat increases blood supply to the affected area and reduces
joint stiffness and muscle spasm, the application of ice packs reduce
swelling, inflammation and pain. The physical therapist uses either of
these therapies depending on the condition to be treated.
• Ultrasound:
A sound wave that has a frequency greater than 20 KHz, ultraound is
used to treat soft tissue injuries. The heating of the tissues improves
the extensibility of soft tissue and improves blood flow to the affected
area. This results in the reduction of swelling and pain.
• Traction:
Traction involves applying a force to draw two adjacent bones apart to
increase their shared joint space. For instance, cervical traction is
applied to ease neck pain. Traction gently stretches the neck to open
the spaces between the cervical vertebrae. This reduces the pressure on
the affected discs and reduces the pain.
• Rehabilitation:
You are made to use different types of rehab devices and equipment such
as an elliptical trainer, treadmill, stair stepper, walker bars, rocker
and wobble boards, and so on. This helps in the regeneration of damaged
tissue.
• Injury prevention education: Physical
therapy services also include educative programs by physical therapists
and chiropractors on preventing further injury and strain to the
affected muscle or joint.
Established Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Center for Treatment
The
type and quality of treatments you receive for physical therapy depends
greatly on the health care center that you choose. Locate a
multi-specialty rehabilitation center with an experienced team of
physical therapists as well as specialists in fields such as neurology,
pain management, orthopedics, chiropractic care, and spinal
decompression. This would ensure a holistic approach to your treatment
and a better resolution of your health issues.