Patients with musculoskeletal pain experience limited mobility due to their condition. For example, it is difficult to walk if you have knee pain. Patients with musculoskeletal pain receive pain prescriptions for pain medication from their doctors to help relieve their symptoms. However, this treatment does not address the underlying cause of the condition. Moreover, excessive consumption of pain medication can cause adversities like over-dependence or organ damage. The standard treatment for musculoskeletal problems is physical therapy. Collaborate with your primary care physician to get a reliable referral for physical therapy, Charleston, and restore optimal tissue structure and function.
The reason you need physical therapy
Physical therapy involves multiple techniques to address musculoskeletal injuries causing pain and stiffness. These techniques can target underlying causes of concern to restore physical function and mobility. Moreover, physical therapy can be an additional treatment to assist in faster recovery after a traumatic accident or surgical procedure.
Physicians perform physical therapy mainly because it effectively eliminates joint damage by restoring muscle strength. The result of effective physical therapy is reduced joint pain and friction in chronic conditions like arthritis.
What to expect during physical therapy sessions
An initial consultation is critical in treating and managing your musculoskeletal pain to help your doctor recognize the cause and severity of your symptoms for the appropriate development of an individually designed physical therapy program to address your concerns. Most patients with musculoskeletal pain due to an accident or an underlying chronic condition like arthritis cannot move affected body parts due to pain. However, remaining inactive is the worst thing you can do because you risk developing tissue loss.
Your doctor will implement passive modalities during the first physical therapy sessions. These techniques include gentle massage, ice or heat, electrical stimulation, and gentle physical manipulation of the affected area. Most patients report significantly reduced inflammation after these passive modalities, which helped them transition into more vigorous activities. Subsequent physical therapy sessions will involve active modalities like exercises and stretches.
Passive physical therapy modalities
Your physical therapist will implement the following passive modalities to make mobility easier by reducing pain and inflammation:
- Ultrasound: Your doctor will apply a gel before gliding an ultrasound applicator to the affected area. Ultrasound waves produce deep heat to affected tissues providing relief.
- Electrical stimulation: Your doctor may perform electrical stimulation using a TENS unit (transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation) to increase blood flow to the area, which reduces inflammation.
- Joint mobilization to help stretch muscles to restore proper alignment.
- Massage involves manipulating the affected area to increase blood flow and release muscle tightness.
- Ice application to the treatment area is critical to reducing swelling. Your doctor may also apply heat to enhance blood circulation.
Active physical therapy modalities
These techniques involve gentle stretches and exercises to improve the range of motion, eliminate discomfort and restore normal tissue function. For improved outcomes, you may need additional equipment, like a resistance band.
Contact The Rehab Docs if you have musculoskeletal pain and schedule a physical therapy appointment to relieve your symptoms and restore mobility.