|
Chronic Pain
Chronic Pain
Chronic Pain can be limiting to your life. It can limit your relationships.
It can limit your livelihood. It can limit your physical activity.
Over time, people with chronic pain may find themselves isolated,
inactive and even depressed.
The only person qualified to manage this important aspect of your
life is you. You do not have to do it alone. Assemble
a team of friends and professionals to help and support you. Find
a physician or therapist you trust. Do not give up if one thing
does not work today. Something else will work tomorrow. Ask for
guidance. Start small. Appreciate small improvements.
Every person is different. You have to find your own combination
of activity, treatment etc. that works for you.
Types of Chronic Pain
How Can Physical Therapy Help?
1. Proper evaluation
Finding the cause of the pain determines treatment success. Evaluation
includes range of motion testing of the body part affected. It
may include specific, small motions of the joints and muscles.
Muscle, flexibility and strength testing is used to design exercises
specific to your needs.
After some treatment, the problem will need to be re-evaluated.
Once one aspect of the problem has been corrected, other restrictions
and pains may appear as they were compensating for or hiding behind
the previous restriction.
There is a variety of manual treatment options available. Treatment
is determined on an individual basis, based on what is found during
evaluation.
Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a method of treatment
involving gentle touch. The therapist looks for and releases restrictions
of motion in the cranial or head bones and in other parts of the
body. The therapist works with a subtle motion caused by the rhythmic
production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain and spinal
cord. Restrictions in the body, particularly in the head and pelvis,
may cause migraines, temporomandibular (jaw) joint pain, back pain,
or other painful conditions. Treatment tends to be very gentle,
relaxing and refreshing.
Myofascial Release (MFR) treatment involves gentle
to not-so-gentle manipulation of the fascia. Fascia is
the "fabric" that connects and supports body structure.
Fascia surrounds muscle, nerve, and bone cells and fibers. It allows
one body structure to glide smoothly over its neighbors. Restrictions
in the fascia affect the movement of muscles, tendons, and other
structures. Releasing restrictions in the fascia makes moving easier
and more comfortable.
Visceral Manipulation (VM) is a gentle hands-on
therapy that locates restrictions or imbalances involving the organs
(viscera), their supportive connective tissues, or the musculoskeletal
system of the body.
Muscle Energy (ME) is a technique used to restore
motion to specific spine segments. It involves holding and relaxing
specific muscles in the back or neck to regain motion and relieve
pain.
Facilitated Positional Release (FPR) puts the
muscles in a relaxed position, so motion is restored and pain is
relieved.
3. Exercise
Exercise is used to maintain gains and retrain muscles weakened
by restricted motion and habit. Muscle balance is essential to
using the body most efficiently. Exercise should be specific to
each person's needs and performed every day independently.
It's time to take control
of chronic pain.
Further Information
©Copyright 2004-2009 by HealthWise Resources
Last Updated:
April 15, 2009
|
