Overview
Pain is an extremely prevalent symptom. According to theĀ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), joint pain affects 25% of people.
Think about that for a second. One in every four individuals experiences pain on a regular basis due to a single condition. If we account for all the disorders that cause pain, the numbers will just be terrifying!
This is why doctors are always looking for ways to relieve pain without having to prescribe pharmacological drugs.
In this article, we will cover the possible benefits of physiotherapy in the management of chronic pain.
Techniques used by physiotherapists to manage pain
Hot compresses (heat therapy)
Hot compresses use the principle of thermotherapy to manage pain. The elevated temperature at the site of injury makes the blood vessels expand in diameter. As a result, blood circulation improves to the muscles and joints,Ā flushing out pain-causing compounds, such as prostaglandins.
These compresses also promote muscle relaxation and dampen articular stiffness. This is very useful for addressing soreness that comes after exercise.
Cold compresses (cold therapy)
Cold compress is a cryotherapy method that uses low temperatures to treat pain. While thermotherapy accelerates blood circulation around the site of injury to accelerate healing, cold compresses produce the opposite effect āĀ They slow everything down.
You may notice that the medical team of professional sports players applies cold compresses whenever a player is injured. The purpose is to stop the pain and decrease the swelling.
Avoid using cold packs and ice massages directly on your skin to avoid injury. Ideally, you would place a thin towel on the site of injury, then apply cold compresses.
Which one is better for chronic pain?
There areĀ multiple studiesĀ that support the effectiveness of cold and hot compresses in treating pain. However, which one should you choose?
You may expect the answer to be simple. Unfortunately, thatās not the case. After analysing the effects of heat therapy and cold therapy in relieving pain, swelling, and stiffness, theĀ results were often mixed.
One thing you should keep in mind is the source of your pain. When your pain is the result of an inflammatory condition, cold compresses may be a better option for you. Conversely, mechanical pain may benefit more from hot compresses.
In summary, both treatments are very effective in the management of acute and chronic pain. They work rapidly and cause no side effects. Make sure to speak with your primary care physician about the best treatment for your specific case.
With that said, it wouldnāt hurt to try both treatments and see what works best for you.
Other techniques used in physiotherapy to manage pain include:
- Manual Therapy
- Exercise prescription
- Movement therapy and stretching
- Posture correction and improvement
- Acupuncture
- Breathing exercises to induce relaxation and mindfulness
- Education about the different aspects of pain
- Learning to self-manage (e.g., stress, sleep, pace)
The concept of unlearning pain
In neuroscience, the concept of ālearning painā has been established through various experiments and clinical studies.Ā
The type of pain we are talking about is chronic pain that results from a previous injury that has already healed. This is mediated via the formation of neuronal synaptic de novo that will condition the pain with the memory/context of the event that caused the injury in the first place.
In other words, the original pain felt shortly after the injury was organic in nature and triggered by inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins; however, the chronic pain that persists long after the injury has healed is the result of new neuronal connections that link the areas of the brain responsible for the pain to the fear and anxiety that come with the memory of the pain.
As a result, the patient will experience constant pain because of the anxiety from that pain, which will create a vicious circle.
Using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), scientists confirmed this theory and found a way to āunlearnā this pain.
Patients who suffer from chronic pain can learn to dissociate the memory of the injury, as well as the feeling of anxiety that is triggered by the memory and the pain from the actual pain they are experiencing.
Researchers conducted a 12-week course of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help patients āunlearnā this damaging habit.
At the end of the experiment, patients reported less pain and the fMRI started resembling images from healthy individuals, which supports these findings.
This study can open a gateway to implementing psychotherapy as a treatment for chronic pain.
While the concept of unlearning pain has not become mainstream yet, you can speak with your physiotherapist about the possibility of using relevant techniques to unlearn pain. Of course, this should be attempted alongside other conventional therapies.
When to see a physiotherapist about your pain?
Seeing a physiotherapist for your pain may be necessary in several cases. For instance, if your pain is not improving despite rest and taking over-the-counter painkillers, it may be time to get a checkup.
Additionally, pain that keeps getting worse, preventing you from performing daily activities is a red flag that requires medical attention.
With that being said, there is more to pain than just the discomfort you feel. If you have any concurrent symptoms, make sure to book an appointment with a healthcare professional for a detailed checkup.
Takeaway message
Chronic pain can be devastating for oneās quality of life. Suffering constantly from physical pain will hinder your day-to-day activities and negatively impact your mental well-being. This is why you need the help of a professional physiotherapist to benefit from non-pharmacological treatments that carry little to no side effects.
We hope that this article managed to highlight the crucial role of physiotherapy in the management of chronic pain as well as in helping patients recover without long-lasting complications.
If you have any questions, concerns, or personal experiences about physiotherapy for pain, you can reach out to us viaĀ WhatsAppĀ for a private conversation or you can also go toĀ www.prorehab.sgĀ for more information.
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