Pain can come from a variety of sources- Physical Therapy can help!
Injury
Tissues, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and discs, that are damaged or disrupted by sprains, strains, tears, or herniations, and are in need of repair. The role of your physical therapist is to prevent further injury and promote healing. Physical therapists determine when and how it is appropriate to get you moving again.
Pathology (Disease Process)
This can be a serious disease that requires further medical investigation or treatment. Physical therapists are specially trained to spot “red flags” – signs of pathology that require medical referral. More common pathologies are chronic, degenerative conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, or other disorders such as diabetes and obesity, that require a safe and effective exercise approach. Physical therapists combine specialized knowledge of these conditions with advanced understanding and application of exercise principles to help you manage or reverse such problems.
Chronic Pain
Pain that occurs in the absence of injury or pathology or that persists beyond the period of time expected for healing. Persistent pain can be a result of increased sensitivity of the nervous system. Two further categories can be determined based on the nature of your sensitivity:
- Mechanical Pain
Sensitivity to movement, position, or activity – pain frequently results from a vicious cycle of guarding, protection, and difficulty moving. As you move, nerves need to be able to glide, slide, and lengthen – tolerating varying degrees of both tension and compression. Tightness leads to decreased tolerance for various physical challenges, including sustained positions, repetitive movements, and forceful movements. Physical therapy breaks that cycle and restores normal movement. Safely increasing strength will also help to improve your functional tolerance.
- Chemical Pain
Nerves are sensitive to inflammatory chemicals so pain can result when there is increased inflammation. Physical therapy can help by improving mobility to lubricate your joints and exercising muscles with low impact to provide more support and unloading of your joints.
