October is the time of year we recognize the profession of physical therapy and celebrate the varied services that physical therapists can provide within our community.
This year, the American Physical Therapy Association (apta.org) has established a “#ChoosePT” campaign to bring increased awareness to the opioid epidemic and the role of PT in safely managing pain.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends physical therapy as a safe and effective alternative to opioids for non-cancer related pain. Following are few tools supported by research that physical therapists may utilize to manage pain (Brence, Joseph. Four Ways PT manages pain; apta.org 2018).
Exercise
A study following 20,000 people over 11 years found that those who exercised on a regular basis, experienced less pain. And among those who exercised more than 3 times per week, chronic widespread pain was 28 percent less common. Physical therapists can prescribe exercise specific to your goals and needs.
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Manual Therapy
Research supports a hands-on approach to treating pain. From carpal tunnel syndrome to low back pain, this type of care can effectively reduce your pain and improve your movement. Physical therapists may use manipulation, joint and soft tissue mobilizations, and dry needling, as well as other strategies in your care.
Education
A large study conducted with military personnel demonstrated that those with back pain who received a 45 minute educational session about pain, were less likely to seek treatment than their peers who didn't receive education about pain. Physical therapists will talk with you to make sure they understand your pain history, and help set realistic expectations about your treatment.
Teamwork
Recent studies have shown that developing a positive relationship with your physical therapist and being an active participant in your own recovery can impact your success. This is likely because physical therapists are able to directly work with you and assess how your pain responds to treatment.
Over the next three weeks, we will continue to discuss specific treatment strategies, techniques and tools that are offered by physical therapists, and how they may be applicable to the type of pain you may be experiencing.
For additional information on Physical Therapy and management of pain, you can visit http://www.apta.org or contact one of our experienced physical therapists here at the Marcus Daly Rehabilitation Center at 406-375-4570.
The health column project is brought to our community through a collaborative between Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital and the Ravalli Republic. For questions and or comments regarding this week’s health column, please contact Pete Dunn, DPT, OTR/L, HPCS, Marcus Daly Rehabilitation Center & Services, 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, MT 59840 or call 375-4570. Working together to build a healthier community!