PHYSIOTHERAPIST IN
THREE RIVERS, VEREENIGING

Treating Pain

Physiotherapy… helping you with pain

Injuries and pain goes hand in hand. A large part of the work of the physiotherapist is to alleviate pain in order to help you heal faster. Painful conditions, however, consists of much more than just injuries. It includes back, neck, shoulders, hand, fascial pain and pelvic pain. It also includes arthritis, headaches, etc.

Physiotherapy is used to alleviate sources of chronic pain, including osteoarthritis, chronic headaches, fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain and rheumatoid arthritis. This type of pain generally requires a particular approach which involves the physiotherapist and patient to focus a little less on the tissues which may have been initially injured, and to use a more holistic approach. One of the goals of physical therapy, is also to help chronic pain patients become stronger, because they’re usually weak from not moving. Another goal is to teach people how to move safely and functionally in ways that minimize pain and helps healing.

A physical therapist works with each patient to understand his or her particular pain — what causes it and what can be done to manage it. The physio can ask questions and talk about pain issues as you are going through your exercise routine. She will then use this specific knowledge to help you find ways to minimize your pain. This is the kind of attention that a regular doctor doesn’t often have the time to give.

Physical therapy involves a variety of treatments (different types of pain management methods) the physiotherapist may use to alleviate your pain:

• Massage. Keep in mind that when you get massage on areas that are injured, sore, or in pain, it may not feel relaxing, like a massage at a spa. But your therapist would take great care to make sure it’s safe and helpful for you.
• Manipulation of joints and bones
• Manual therapy using hands or tools on soft tissue
• Heat and cold therapy. Ice calms inflammation. Heat warms up your muscles so they move better. Both reduce pain.
• TENS and ultrasound. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, or TENS, uses a device to send a low-voltage electric current to the skin over the area where you have pain. Ultrasound sends sound waves to the places you have pain. Both may offer relief by blocking the pain messages sent to your brain.
• Cold laser therapy to alleviate inflammation and pain and release endorphins
• Microcurrent stimulation, which emits alpha waves into the brain and increases serotonin and dopamine to alleviate pain naturally
• Movement therapy and exercise i.e. . stretching, strengthening exercises and pain relief exercises. You might use machines at your physical therapist’s office, resistance bands, or your own body weight (think lunges, squats, and push-ups). You may work on your core muscles (belly, glutes, and back), as well as other parts of your body. Exercise may involve walking on a treadmill or swimming in a pool, depending on the person’s pain and physical abilities. Exercising for just 30 minutes a day on at least three or four days a week will help you with chronic pain management by increasing strength in the muscles, endurance, stability in the joints and the flexibility in the muscles and joints. Keeping a consistent exercise routine will also help control chronic pain. Regular therapeutic exercise will help you maintain the ability to move and function physically, rather than becoming disabled by your chronic pain.

Conditions We Treat…

• Treating injuries
• Sports injuries
• Muscle injuries
• Tendon injuries
• Ligament injuries
• Joint injuries
• Bone injuries/fractures
• Myofascial injuires
• Nerve injuries
• Relieving pain
• Arthritis
• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Back pain
• Spinal pain
• Joint pain
• Knee pain
• Sciatica
• Headaches
• Jaw and facial pain
• Pregnancy related back and pelvic pain
• Restoring Health/Rehabilitation
• Post injury rehabilitation
• Rehabilitation after physical trauma and disability
• Post surgical rehabilitation
• Post stroke rehabilitation
• Pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis