Physical therapy plays an important part in the treatment of chronic pain. When physical activity is first resumed, patients may feel an increase in pain. This response is normal and occurs because chronically retracted muscles resist change. Through repeated visits, physical therapy can alleviate muscle tension and spasm when those factors are sources of pain. The application of heat or cold may likewise reduce muscle tension or spasm. Particularly with the application of heat, there are added elements of relaxation. Either heat or cold may relieve local muscle spasm or inflammation. The patient is generally the best judge of which temperature provides more relief. Deep heat is generally better than heat applied superficially. It can be administered as infrared radiation or moist hot packs. Ultrasound may have a direct effect on muscles in spasm. It can be particularly helpful to those patients who have muscle strain or myofascial pain of the trunk or neck, and may also loosen tight extremities, especially when combined with muscle stretching activities. When you begin physical therapy the pain may initially increase, it is important to stay with your therapy. As your muscles get stronger, you will ultimately benefit from physical therapy.
Type
of physical therapy appropriate for chronic pain:
… Back school
… Stretching exercises
… Strengthening exercises
… Desensitization therapy
… Pool therapy
Note:
All of these therapies should be taught to the patient,
but they should be responsible for integrating them into their normal routines.
It is not cost effective to have a patient go to physical therapy for years,
when the patient can do most of these things, if they develop a discipline.