Role of Physiotherapy in Chronic Pain Management

If you are in pain, chances are you must have heard of physiotherapy at least once. People have several questions in mind when it comes to physical therapy. How does it work on chronic pain? Is the process painful? How effective is the treatment? This article intends to clear all confusion for you related to physiotherapy and its effects on chronic pain. 

Before uncovering the connection between pain and physiotherapy, let’s first understand what chronic pain is exactly.

What is Chronic Pain and How is It Different from Acute Pain?

Pain is not a condition in itself. It is a sign that something is wrong with your body. Acute pain occurs quickly and subsides within a day or two since there are no strong causes in this case. 

Chronic pain, on the other hand, persists for over six months. It can also reoccur if you don’t treat the illness fast. 

How does Physiotherapy help?

Physiotherapy is a holistic approach to treating a wide variety of musculoskeletal and nervous system conditions that involve chronic pain and discomfort. This practice of healthcare focuses on assessing the injury, diagnosing the exact cause and treating it from the core through manipulation techniques such as IMS, massage therapy, exercise prescriptions, etc. 

It has revolutionized healthcare by reducing dependence on pain medicines or surgeries. Most importantly, physical therapy relieves pain and prevents the condition from reoccurring. 

There are various stages of treatment you encounter in physiotherapy clinics. Let’s go through each stage so you know what to expect from the sessions. 

First stage of physiotherapy treatment 

Patient education marks the beginning of the sessions. The physiotherapist informs you about what chronic pain exactly is since there are several myths associated with it. They provide you with a proper understanding of the pain and reassure you to have the confidence to recover. 

Second stage of physiotherapy treatment 

Next, the physiotherapist gathers information about your past medical history along with the existing problems you are experiencing. They may perform specific physical tests to detect the source of the problem. It is through these tests that they also diagnose the condition and prepare an effective treatment plan for your recovery. 

Third stage of physiotherapy treatment 

Once the treatment plan is ready, they start following it. The treatment plan may consist of physical therapy exercises, joint mobilization techniques, IMS, acupuncture, massage therapy and more depending on the severity of your injury. No two people experiencing the same kind of pain may get the same treatment plan. 

Once you achieve your health goals, the physiotherapist puts an end to the sessions. They also guide you through treatments that you can do at home. 

How Many Sessions Do You Need?

The number of physical therapy sessions differs based on your condition and symptoms. The physiotherapist decides the number of sessions after assessing your condition through physical examinations. Typically, it takes four physiotherapy sessions to recover from the early stages of chronic pain. It may take longer in the case of severe injuries.