Understanding Acute vs. Chronic Pain
Most of us experience pain from time to time, often after a competitive sports game, cleaning up the house, or waking up on the wrong side of the bed. Pain generally falls into two categories: acute or chronic. Acute pain resolves within a short period of time, while chronic pain, usually caused by an injury or medical condition, is a longer-term problem.
Physical therapy often aids in rehabilitating and restoring normal bodily function. The exercises can strengthen muscles and improve flexibility, and may be spread across several visits until an optimum level of healing is achieved. Physical therapists gain a great deal of training and experience from the many cases they work on, which lets them recommend the appropriate exercises for each type of condition. PTs help treat the pain itself as well as resolve its source, pinpointing where the pain may be emanating from, which can affect other parts of the body.
What Physical Therapy Exercises Look Like
Physical therapy exercises often include strengthening work, squats, push-ups, lunges, and sit-ups, sometimes using machines or tools like medicine balls and resistance bands. Low-impact aerobic exercise helps with the cardio side of things: non-vigorous aerobic activity raises your heart rate and breathing while still respecting your physical limitations, and brisk walking, low-speed stationary biking, or light swimming all make good warm-ups.
Exercises for relieving pain focus on the source of that pain, which is usually a strain, tightened muscles, or pinched nerves. These exercises loosen tight muscles or joints and increase flexibility, and stretching helps loosen up stiff joints, tissues, and muscles as well, your physical therapist will apply the appropriate level of stretch depending on your condition.
Beyond Exercise: Other Treatment Tools
Exercise sessions are often complemented by other treatments, such as ice packs for inflammation and heat compresses to warm up the muscles. Your physical therapist may also apply massage at the right level of pressure to the injured or pain-affected area, providing both a relaxing and therapeutic experience.
Physical therapy may also include ultrasound and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). TENS uses low-voltage electric currents applied to the skin where the pain is experienced, while ultrasound sends waves that block pain messages traveling to the brain.
Committing to the Process
Physical therapy is safe and highly recommended throughout the rehabilitation and healing process. Your physical therapist will build the plan best suited to your problem, condition, and general health. It's worth noting that physical therapy activities may hurt and feel challenging at times, but they will make you stronger and contribute significantly toward your full recovery.
Tribeca Physical Therapy offers a wide range of physical therapy treatments with highly qualified practitioners. If you've been suffering from an injury, pain, or discomfort, get in touch today and we'll have you come in for an assessment.