Physical Therapy for Pain Management

by Matson Huff | Feb 21, 2022 | Pain Management

Up to 50 million Americans suffer from chronic or long-term pain. Missing work, the inability to do recreational activities, lack of concentration, and poor mental health are all side effects of living with chronic pain. However, one of the last things pain sufferers want to do may be the most effective treatment for chronic pain: exercise, and more specifically, physical therapy. Physical therapy for pain management can increase strength, mobility, and overall wellness for those suffering from chronic pain. 

Chronic Pain 

Doctors consider pain present for more than 12 weeks to be chronic pain. Some of the most common conditions causing chronic pain include:

• Fibromyalgia
• Osteoarthritis
• Migraines
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Neuropathic pain

Physical therapists typically focus on building strength and mobility when treating pain patients. Additionally, a physical therapist may work with patients to find safe, functional movements that don’t aggravate their pain.

How Physical Therapy Treats Pain

Physical therapists work to treat pain and its source. A physical therapist will look for muscle weakness or stiffness in areas that contribute to chronic pain symptoms. Then, they’ll treat your pain with exercises that help you move better and ease the pain. 

Most physical therapy sessions include a variety of training methods. 

Low-Impact Aerobic Exercises

Your physical therapist may choose an activity like cycling, walking, or swimming to amplify your heart rate, increase your range of motion, and provide fluid to your joints.

Strengthening Exercises

Your physical therapist may use low weights, resistance bands, weight machines, and bodyweight exercises (lunges and push-ups) to strengthen foundational muscles like your core or abdominal muscles.

Pain Relief Exercises

Pain relief exercises specifically target the source of your pain. For instance, a patient with knee pain may strengthen their leg muscles to support the joint better. 

Stretching

Gentle stretches are a fundamental part of physical therapy, as specific stretches can help to reduce pain, make muscle contraction more efficient, and work to release entrapped nerves.

Maintaining a consistent exercise routine can also help you retain the ability to move and function properly, rather than letting your pain render you immobile. 

Further Pain Support

When meeting with your physical therapist, discuss further treatment options to mitigate your pain. These treatments may include massage, heat and cold therapy, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which many physical therapists offer in-office. 

Lack of movement and exercise worsens chronic pain. However, you can take charge of your pain symptoms by working with a physical therapist to build strength and mobility while lessening your chronic pain. Some patients are exploring stem cell therapy for chronic pain to help manage inflammation and pain. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are one specific type of stem cell that has the ability to differentiate into different types of cells. They are essentially the raw materials used to generate new tissues. This new alternative option may help patients manage their chronic pain along with conventional methods. If you are interested in learning more about physical therapy for pain management call us today and speak with. a care coordinator.

What Are Some Exercises for Pain Management?

by Matson Huff | Feb 14, 2022 | Pain Management

For decades, the treatment guidelines for pain were rest and inactivity. In contrast, more recent data shows that exercise may reduce the severity of chronic pain and offer well-established benefits, like improved physical and mental health. Some activities can benefit chronic pain patients, while others can exacerbate pain symptoms. No matter what exercise regimen you choose to manage your pain, start slowly, take breaks, and stop if your pain worsens. Here we will overview exercises for pain management.

Walking

Walking is a low-impact cardiovascular exercise that can increase strength, endurance, and heart health. If walking is challenging for you, start slow, and work your way up to walking for 30 minutes, three to five times per week. 

Walking increases blood circulation, bringing oxygen to muscles and relieving stiffness. If you use a walker or a cane, bring it with you for support.

Swimming or Water Aerobics

Exercising in water also provides low-impact cardiovascular benefits without creating much stress on your joints and muscles. In addition, patients suffering from mobility issues may find extra comfort in the water, as the feeling of weightlessness may provide relief. 

Swimming has the potential to build stronger muscles in the back, shoulders, legs, and core while causing minimal impact to your spine. Additionally, swimming can improve coordination, balance, and posture, which may lessen the risk of further injury. 

Cycling

Cycling can strengthen your heart and lungs and improve muscle function. Compared to high-impact exercises, cycling tends to produce less stress on your weight-bearing joints, like your hips, knees, and feet. It also can reduce pain and stiffness by lubricating your joints through movement. 

Patients who need to work at lower intensities can go slower, coast occasionally, and use lower gears. No matter your intensity level, research shows that the benefits of cycling remain. 

Yoga

Yoga is one of few activities that focus on mental and physical fitness. In addition to using movements to stretch and strengthen muscles, yoga’s holistic approach incorporates breathing exercises and meditation. 

You can modify yoga poses to accommodate your level of strength, flexibility, and physical limitations. Options include:

• Chair yoga
• Using a wall for balance
• Using yoga props to make poses more accessible

Ask your instructor about your specific challenges so that they can offer appropriate modifications. Know that some soreness a day or two after an unfamiliar workout is normal and means your muscles are reacting appropriately to exercise. 

Whenever you incorporate new exercises for pain management into your routine, it’s best to discuss your plans with your healthcare provider. For more health awareness blogs, please visit www.stemedix.com/blog.

Pain Management for Knee Pain

by Matson Huff | Jan 17, 2022 | Pain Management

Knee pain can be debilitating and impair your ability to have a quality daily life. There are many causes of knee pain, and you might feel frustrated trying to navigate different knee pain management options. Some people experience chronic knee pain from sports injuries, arthritis, or old age. No matter what the cause of your knee pain is, there are options for relief.  Here are some options when it comes to pain management for knee pain.

Medications

Your doctor might prescribe medication to treat your knee pain. There are various types of medications that help relieve knee pain issues. Anti-inflammatory medications can help with symptoms of osteoarthritis, an inflammatory joint condition that causes chronic knee pain. If you suffer from a condition like gout, your doctor may prescribe a specific type of medication to treat this underlying condition. 

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can help strengthen the muscles around your knee to provide more support and relieve pain. Exercises like knee stretches and mobility practice can help restore your knee function. Physical therapy for knee pain is often recommended after knee replacement surgery to prevent your knees from getting stiff and losing mobility. 

Injections

Your doctor may recommend injections to treat your knee pain. Corticosteroids are a common type of injection for pain relief. They are most effective for treating arthritis-related knee pain. During an arthritis flare-up, the corticosteroids can put your body’s healing mechanisms into overdrive to reduce your pain. 

Other types of injections, like platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid, are available as well to help manage pain. These injections have shown some potential to treat knee pain, but they are still considered experimental.   

Stem Cell Therapy

Another option being explored more these days for knee pain is regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy. This alternative option therapy has the ability to regrow important tissues and cartilage within the body. It has shown promising results in treating osteoarthritis, a common cause of knee pain. 

Knee pain often stems from injuries or wear and tear on your knee joints and the surrounding tissues. Stem cell therapy can potentially replace some of the damaged tissues around your knee to relieve your knee pain. Since stem cells start as a blank slate, they can be grown into almost any type of cell that your body needs. 

Stem cell therapy has shown few negative side effects for patients who have received treatment. If you suffer from knee pain and do not see results from other forms of treatment, stem cell therapy might be a good option to explore to help manage your knee pain for relief. If you would like to learn more, contact us today and speak with a care coordinator.