True Pain Relief Without Drugs Can Be Found Through Physical Therapy

You know how limiting pain can be if you live with it. Chronic pain, defined as pain that lasts three months or longer, usually indicates the presence of an underlying illness that requires treatment.

While medicine can help to conceal discomfort in the short term, it will not provide long-term relief. Non-pharmaceutical pain treatment is preferred over pharmaceutical pain treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and they perform a superior job reducing pain in most circumstances.

If you are looking for a natural and effective method of treatment that will relieve your pain at its root, contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine in Dublin, GA today!

What’s the difference between chronic and acute pain?

Acute pain can be easily diagnosed in some cases, especially if it is the result of an automobile accident, a sports or job injury, or a surgical procedure. When it comes to acute pain, the discomfort usually lessens as the injured body part recovers.

Chronic pain, on the other hand, is a little different. Chronic pain can be difficult to identify, and it can last for months or even years before a cause is identified and relief is found. Chronic pain can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

  • Chronic pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia, may affect nerves and muscles.
  • Chronic overuse injuries, such as tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, or carpal tunnel syndrome.
  • General muscle weakness, due to poor posture or an unbalanced body, can cause knots or spasms.
  • Areas of internal scar tissue buildup that can restrict neighboring muscles and connective tissues.
  • Extended lack of use, such as a lengthy recovery period after a procedure, can cause the affected area to feel stiff or “frozen.”
  • Degenerative joint conditions, such as osteoarthritis, produce chronic pain and inflammation.

The problem with drugs

Modern medicine tends to turn to drugs early and often, in an effort to alleviate pain problems. Unfortunately, this approach doesn’t always work in the long run. The drugs may mute the pain while they’re in your system, but the underlying problem that’s causing the pain remains untreated.

Both opioid prescription rates and deaths from opioid overdoses have quadrupled in the last two decades. Given these identical statistics, one can’t escape the obvious conclusion: Reliance on painkillers has gotten out of hand, and the consequences can be literally fatal.

In a study published by the American Physical Therapy Association, titled “Beyond Opioids: How Physical Therapy Can Transform Pain Management and Improve Health,” this issue is exhaustively analyzed. It identifies three important waves of the opioid epidemic:

“1. Increases in deaths involving prescription opioids starting in 1999
2. Increases in deaths involving heroin starting in 2010
3. Increases in deaths involving synthetic opioids since 2013”

Beyond extreme physical risk, over-reliance on prescription painkillers can have other detrimental effects on your health. Withdrawal symptoms can be harrowing. And while you’re still using them, opioids can lead to depression, which sets up a vicious cycle of self-medicating in order to feel better emotionally as well as physically.

As long as that untreated condition persists, so will your long-term pain – meaning an endless cycle of drugs, pain, and then more drugs. This may force you to use more and more medication as your pain continues to linger, which can become problematic as certain drugs can come with harmful side effects and addictive chemicals.

You can find relief through physical therapy

Physical therapy is without a doubt the most effective and secure form of pain management. When you come in for your first session, your physical therapist will perform a thorough examination to evaluate your ailment and create a treatment plan for you. Targeted stretches and exercises, as well as any of the following approaches, are included in treatment plans:

  • Ice and heat therapy reduces inflammation and swelling.
  • Manual therapy decreases inflammation of your internal tissues.
  • Ultrasound therapy enhances blood flow and relaxes tight muscle fibers through sound waves.
  • Electrical muscle stimulation (TENS units) stimulates your body’s natural painkillers (endorphins) through tiny amounts of electrical current.

Your treatment plan will address both localized pain and referred pain issues. Physical therapy treats pain where it originates, rather than simply masking the symptoms as painkillers do.

Call our physical therapy clinic today

There are far better options to help you alleviate your pain. If you’ve previously been turning to prescription medication for relief, or you’ve been considering saving up for the hefty price tag of surgery, stop right now.

Give us a call and allow us to show you the wonders of physical therapy! Avoid the risk of pain management drugs by contacting Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine in Dublin, GA. We’ll help you relieve your pain in a natural, safe way!

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6 Improvements Physical Therapy Can Make To Your Health

Do you realize that your muscles are aching or sore throughout the day? Do you need to heal from a recent accident or surgery? Do you have a chronic illness that causes you to be in continual pain? You might think there is no solution to your pain and discomfort, but you’re wrong!

Physical therapy can help you enhance your health in any situation. A physical therapist at Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine in Dublin, GA can help you as you recover from surgery, heal from an injury, or learn how to manage symptoms of a chronic condition.

To learn about ways physical therapy can help you to feel better, keep reading! Afterward, be sure to call our clinic to set up an appointment and let us get you back on track to being your best self.

Are you ready to start feeling your best?

Here are 6 ways physical therapy can help you make improvements to your overall health.

1. Balance can be improved with physical therapy.

Whether you’re standing, walking, or doing an exercise routine, a physical therapist can provide you with a variety of exercises to help you improve your balance.

Balance normally declines as bones become brittle with age, and there are various health issues that can influence your balance.

Improving your balance will help you prevent trips and falls, which can result in catastrophic injuries. It can also help you participate in and enjoy more demanding activities that you may not have been able to do previously.

2. Recovery time can be cut in half.

If you’ve previously had surgery or experienced an injury, a physical therapy program might be designed to help you get back on your feet. Your physical therapist will design a rehabilitation program that is tailored to your unique needs, with the goal of assisting you in recovering as rapidly as possible. Strength and range of motion exercises, as well as any specialty treatments recommended by your physical therapist, may be included.

3. Your flexibility will improve!

Increasing your muscle and joint flexibility is a goal of many physical therapy treatment programs. Your physical therapist can assist you with a number of stretching treatments as well as heat therapy to loosen up tight muscles and tendons. Massage or breathing techniques may be recommended by your physical therapist to help you relax and become more flexible.

4. Physical therapy gives you another reason to engage in physical activity.

Physical therapy might be effective even if you’re in good health and participate in a variety of activities! Your physical therapist can assist you in improving your performance by advising you on specific forms and techniques.

If you want to get back into the things you enjoy, your physical therapist can help you do so. You’ll collaborate on a treatment plan that will help you achieve your objectives, and he or she will help you improve your strength, endurance, and flexibility.

5. You may be able to avoid surgery.

You always run the danger of blood clots, infection, and a long recovery time when you have surgery. In many circumstances, physical therapy can resolve a problem without requiring surgery. A physical therapist can help you with sprains, strains, dislocations, tendonitis, bursitis, arthritis, and acute/chronic pain, to name a few ailments.

Physical therapy aids your body’s natural healing process, and while surgery may be necessary in some cases, it’s almost always preferable to avoid an intrusive operation if the condition can be managed with physical therapy.

6. Preventing injuries will be much easier.

Physical therapy aids in the recovery of injuries, but most people are unaware that it can also aid in the prevention of injuries as well!

Your physical therapist can give you a variety of exercises to undertake at home and before engaging in physical activity to help you avoid injury. If you’re recuperating from surgery, your physical therapist can teach you new techniques to walk and move that will help you stay active while lowering the risk of falls and injury.

Let a physical therapist do the heavy lifting! Call us today

Whether you are looking for relief, looking to prevent an injury, or simply looking to improve your physical function, physical therapy is here for you. Your physical therapist will work closely with you, in order to help you reach your health and fitness goals. If you’re ready to get started on the path toward improved health, contact our office today!

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Do You Think You Have Arthritis? Get To The Source of Your Pain With Physical Therapy!

Arthritis is a disorder of the joints that millions of people live with. It results in joint inflammation that can cause aches, pains, stiffness, and limited mobility. While there are over 100 types of arthritis, they are typically split into two categories: monoarthritis, meaning only one joint is affected, and oligoarthritis, meaning multiple joints are affected.

The two most commonly reported types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis develops from “wear and tear” of cartilage, while rheumatoid arthritis develops from an overactive immune system.

If you’re living with arthritis, then you know how limiting it can be. While arthritis is debilitating, it can undoubtedly be managed!

If you believe you may be living with arthritic symptoms, contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine in Dublin, GA as soon as possible. We’ll help you manage your arthritic aches and pains and have you feeling better in no time.

I’m not sure if I have arthritis. What should I do?

First and foremost, if you think you might have arthritis, you should see your primary healthcare physician. They will perform a comprehensive examination, looking for disease-related symptoms such as inflammation and/or deformity.

They’ll go over your symptoms and order any blood tests, urine tests, joint fluid testing, or x-rays they think you need. If these tests reveal that you have arthritis, your doctor will devise a treatment plan for you based on the location and severity of your problem. This treatment strategy may include rest, exercise, and medications as needed.

You may likely be referred to a physical therapist to help guide you through your exercise routines. This is done to measure progress and ensure that you are completing your physical activity safely and correctly.

Physical therapy is a proven aid in arthritic pain relief without harmful pain-management drugs. According to the Arthritis Center at Johns Hopkins,

“Physical activity is essential to optimizing both physical and mental health and can play a vital role in the management of arthritis. Regular physical activity can keep the muscles around affected joints strong, decrease bone loss, and may help control joint swelling and pain. Regular activity replenishes lubrication to the cartilage of the joint and reduces stiffness and pain. Exercise also helps to enhance energy and stamina by decreasing fatigue and improving sleep. Exercise can enhance weight loss and promote long-term weight management in those with arthritis who are overweight.”

Early diagnosis can help avoid joint damage and disability, so you must contact a doctor as soon as you think you may be developing arthritic symptoms.

What should I expect with physical therapy?

Physical therapy is nothing to be scared of. It’s a safe and effective treatment method for a variety of chronic pain conditions, and you can rest assured you’re in good hands at our clinic.

While there is no known treatment for arthritis, physical therapy is a tried and true way of reducing pain and inflammation. Based on the type of arthritic illness and their needs, each patient is given a tailored treatment plan. Treatment regimens aid in the improvement of strength, mobility, and range of motion while also reducing pain.

Your physical therapist will provide you with targeted stretches and exercises for arthritic relief, in addition to any other methods he or she may deem fit. This may include manual therapy, soft tissue mobilization, ice and heat therapies, deep tissue massage, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation.

Any additional modality will be added under the discretion of your physical therapist if needed for other pain relief or mobility improvement. Remember, if at any time you want to talk with your therapist about a change in your treatment plan, you’re more than welcome to come to us!

Call our clinic today and say goodbye to arthritis pain

Are you ready to relieve your arthritic aches and pains? Does getting back into the swing of things without nagging chronic discomfort sound like a dream come true to you? If so, contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine in Dublin, GA today.

We’ll help you manage your pain so you can get back to living your life!

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Physical Therapy Can Help You Solve Your Chronic Pain Problems

When you wake up in the morning, do you feel achy? While aches and pains are common from time to time, waking up every morning with them can indicate a more serious problem.

If you have painful sensations in the morning for no apparent reason, don’t hesitate to contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine in Dublin, GA as soon as possible for assistance. We’ll get to the root of your problem to help you find relief, so you can wake up in the mornings feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day ahead.

Common causes of chronic pain in the morning

Has your doctor diagnosed you with a more serious medical condition that impacts your joints and tissues? If so, physical therapy may be the next step. Physical therapy is a very common and effective treatment plan for pain relief.

Here are some of the most common ailments that can be relieved with the guidance of a physical therapist:

  • Osteoarthritis.
  • Gout.
  • Bursitis.
  • Tendinitis.
  • Lupus.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Injury.

Aches, pains, and stiffness can be caused by any of these disorders. In addition to pain alleviation, physical therapy treatment regimens for these diseases will focus on helping you attain a broader range of motion in your affected joints or limbs. These help you regain your typical movement by improving overall function.

Why is the pain worse in the morning?

Overuse of your joint tissues throughout the day might aggravate them without you even noticing it. When you fall asleep, you are nearly immobile for several hours, which can cause tissue inflammation to thicken and irritate the affected area further. As a result, you feel stiff and achy when you wake up in the morning.

Most of the time, after you get up and walk around, this feeling will subside pretty quickly. This is due to the fact that movement causes the inflammation to become liquid-like, reducing pain. Hydration is an easy way to avoid aching morning wake-up calls.

Staying hydrated allows your body’s tissues to function at their normal pace, whereas dehydration slows down your chemical processes. This will keep your tissues from becoming overly inflamed, easing irritation.

Great ways to ease your discomfort and pain

Your physical therapy treatment plan will be determined by your symptoms and/or diagnosis. In addition to your customized treatment plan, many physical therapists will recommend at-home remedies. On your path to wellness, your physical therapist will most likely give you the following advice:

  • Maintain a healthy diet. Consumption of brightly colored fruits and vegetables can help alleviate pain. These healthy foods have more antioxidants and vitamins, which fight off the inflammation that leads to pain and irritation. A better diet also helps you to get better sleep and helps your body receive more benefits from exercise – thus, adding to the endless cycle of benefits.
  • Practice proper posture. Avoiding unwanted aches and pains can be as simple as maintaining proper posture. Try to get up every half hour for some light stretches if your job needs you to sit at a desk for extended periods of time or if you stay sedentary for hours every day. Move around and keep your circulation running to relieve joint pain. Make sure your spine is straight and your shoulders are back at your desk to avoid slouching or hunching.
  • Get enough sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep creates an endless cycle of benefits, especially when it comes to physical therapy. Sufficient amounts of sleep will increase your ability to exercise effectively, which in turn will help you sleep better at night. Your sleep and exercise habits go hand-in-hand, and the results of one will always affect the other.

The benefits of physical therapy

It is in your best interest to see a physical therapist if you are experiencing chronic aches and pains. Your physical therapist will perform a physical examination to establish the source of your discomfort and develop a treatment plan based on that information. Your physical therapist will work with you to relieve your pain and enhance your function and will be there to support you every step of the way.

Get on the fast track to pain relief today

Physical therapists are movement specialists who can help you recover from your pain condition. Our treatment strategies include focused stretches and exercises to relieve your symptoms and prevent them from coming back in the future.

If you’re suffering from aches and pains, call our office right now to see how we can help! We’ll help you reclaim your freedom to live life on your own terms.

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Here’s What You Don’t Know About Finding Relief For Hip and Knee Pain

Your hips and knees are essential joints that work hard all day to give you the best possible function. They are common sources of pain and discomfort due to their complexity and constant use. As the cartilage in one’s joints begins to break down with age, the risk of experiencing chronic hip and knee pain rises. Anyone can acquire hip or knee discomfort due to excessive overuse, unanticipated traumas, or underlying disorders.

You may have been told that the only way to find relief from hip and knee pain is through expensive surgery. While surgery is sometimes needed to correct certain conditions in the hip or knee, physical therapy has been proven to succeed in significantly lowering pain and improving function.

In many cases, physical therapy can even eliminate the need for a surgical procedure. If you are living with hip and/or knee pain and you are looking for relief, contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine in Dublin, GA today to see how our services can benefit you!

Common causes of knee and hip pain

When you make an appointment with a physical therapist, you can expect a comprehensive examination as the first step. Our physical therapist will assess you to determine the location of the sore area and the source of the discomfort.

For example, discomfort in the hips can occasionally be felt in the lower back, buttocks, groin, or the front or side of the hips. Knee pain can also be felt on the front or rear of the knee joint. If there has been a trauma to the knee, it can also be felt on the inside of the knee or the outside of the knee if you have iliotibial band tension.

Hip pain is typically reported as a constant dull ache that doesn’t disappear. However, knee pain is a bit different and is often assessed as one of several different types of pain:

  • Chronic – Chronic pain can be defined as any pain that lasts longer than two or three months. If you’ve been living with serious knee pain for that long, you should consult your doctor. They will most likely suggest performing another full physical exam in addition to x-rays.
  • Acute – Acute pain is the most intense type of knee pain. It typically occurs after an injury and will last for about a week. The treatment for acute pain is generally just to simply rest and isolate the affected area, as your body is working hard to heal it.
  • Subacute – Pain that lasts two to six weeks after an injury is known as subacute pain. Although the affected area may still be uncomfortable, it will not be as bad as the first week. Gentle motions promote a better range of motion and aid healing in treating subacute knee pain.

Physical therapy techniques can help you find true relief

When you arrive for your initial consultation, your physical therapist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine the nature of your condition and the best steps for comfort. This evaluation will include:

  • Range of motion tests. Your physical therapist will test the limits of your knee or hip to see how far it will bend. This helps determine the severity of the trauma and will give your physical therapist insight into the course of treatment.
  • Palpation. Your physical therapist will gently palpate the knee or hip to determine where the pain originates.
  • Strength tests. Testing the strength of your knee and hip structures will give your physical therapist a better idea of whether your pain is due to an injury or a physical imbalance.
  • Gait analysis. Your physical therapist will assess how you walk to determine if anything is out of the ordinary with your gait.

Depending on your symptoms, your physical therapist may also perform balance tests to see if your balance has been affected. If any areas are inflamed, your physical therapist will focus closely on those areas. The test results will determine what methods will benefit your treatment plan.

Are you ready to feel better, faster?

Treatment plans will include targeted stretches and exercises to relieve pain and improve function in the affected hips or knees. Additional methods might be added as your physical therapist deems fit. Your progress will be closely tracked in order to help you reach your goals as quickly as possible.

If you are looking to relieve your hip and knee pains the natural way, contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine in Dublin, GA today. We’ll provide you with the treatment you need so you can get back on your feet!

Are You Living with Any of These 5 Conditions? If So, Consider Physical Therapy!

5 Signs You May be in Need of Physical Therapy!

Did you know that physical therapy can be used to manage a variety of different conditions as a natural form of pain relief?

Unfortunately, it is usually not only until after attempting more conventional medical approaches such as surgery and prescription painkillers that people realize physical therapy sessions are a fantastic way to relieve their chronic pain and other recurrent symptoms.

If you have any of these top five most common aches and pains, you may be a good candidate for physical therapy.

Keep reading to learn more about common conditions that can be treated with physical therapy and some of the top natural healing recommendations from our experienced physical therapists!

Do any of these sounds like you?

1. Traumatic Injury

After experiencing a traumatic injury, your body requires plenty of time to heal and recover. But in today’s busy world, many people must get back to work as soon as possible following an injury.

Physical therapy can help your body to heal more quickly and efficiently after a traumatic injury or surgery. Physical therapy is an ideal post-surgical healing option and is designed to help you reach your rehabilitation goals without the use of prescription pain medications.

2. Joint Pain

Arthritis and other forms of joint pain can increase in severity as we age. However, people of all ages are at risk of developing joint pain, especially following another traumatic injury.

And for those who are overweight or obese, joint pain can become a chronic health issue that prevents one from enjoying the simple things in life like taking a walk after mealtimes or getting in and out of the car with ease.

Joint injuries don’t always happen because of an accident. They can also develop slowly over months or even years. You might notice that the pain also ebbs and flows depending on the time of day. Certain sports, jobs, and hobbies can cause you to put excessive stress on certain joints over and over again, which could very well lead to pain.

Working with a physical therapist to develop a personalized treatment plan can help to manage your joint pain and other symptoms naturally.

3. Neck Pain

It’s common to experience neck pain for a variety of different reasons. You may notice neck pain spring up after an auto accident or as a result of poor posture.

Neck pain is often very difficult to cope with and treat with traditional medicine. However, physical therapy and massage can relieve the muscles in the neck, reduce swelling, and help to restore your natural mobility.

Physical therapy, regardless of the root cause of pain, has been shown to help with neck pain. For those trying to prevent costly procedures or dangerous drugs, physical therapy is a completely safe, natural, and effective mode of care.

4. Headaches

Recurring headaches are no laughing matter and can make getting through the day seem nearly impossible. In many cases, frequent headaches are a sign of injury in the neck or back.

Working with a physical therapist to target the cause of your recurring headaches can reduce the severity of your head pain or eventually eliminate them altogether.

In fact, as stated by Choose PT, “There is an effective treatment for almost every type of headache.” Working with a physical therapist can help you identify tension-reducing exercises and help you find long-term relief from headaches without the need to rely on pain medication.

5. Back Pain

Back pain is one of the biggest reasons that Americans visit the doctor each year. Back pain can be the result of a wide variety of different injuries, illnesses, and chronic conditions.

The World Health Organization estimates that in the United States, 149 million days of work are lost due to low back pain.

You may be experiencing back pain due to an overuse injury, a degenerative disease, sports injury, or other common environmental factors.

But whatever the cause, there’s a good chance that your back pain is preventing you from completing simple everyday tasks like getting out of bed or climbing the stairs without feeling pain.

Physical therapy can help to address the root cause of your pain, increase mobility, reduce inflammation, and much more.

Contact Our Physical Therapist Today

If you or a loved one are struggling with recurrent pain after an injury or as a result of a degenerative condition, physical therapy is a great way to help your body to heal naturally.

Are you interested in learning more about the benefits of physical therapy for pain management and healing? Please contact our knowledgeable and friendly physical therapist for more information and be sure to schedule your initial consultation today!

Physical Therapy Can Help with Chronic Pain! Don’t Live in Discomfort Any Longer

Discover Relief for Your Aches and Pains Today

Chronic back pain is a pain that lasts for three months and is longer. This type of pain can occur for a variety of reasons, including spinal arthritis, aging, disc problems, and myofascial pain syndrome.

With spinal arthritis, the slow thinning of the cartilage inside the spine can result in pain. With a herniated or bulging disc, compression may occur around your surrounding nerves, resulting in pain. With spinal stenosis, there is a narrowing of the spine, which can lead to nerve pain. With myofascial pain syndrome, you may experience unknown muscle tenderness and pain.

Whatever the cause of your chronic back pain, it doesn’t have to be a part of your daily life.

What can physical therapy do for my chronic pain?

If your back pain is caused by spinal stenosis or a bulging disc, a physical therapist may initiate a targeted movement program to reduce numbness, pain, or weakness. Progressive movement exercises such as McKenzie exercises may be included in your physical therapy program t o treat a wide range of causes of chronic back pain.

Stabilization exercises to retrain deep muscles may also be included. Your physical therapist will also show you how to use the right spinal and abdominal muscles before starting any exercise to stabilize the spine. Manipulation is another technique for alleviating chronic back pain where short and rapid movements are performed over the joint to reduce pain and increase mobility.

Physical therapists also use multiple passive modalities to reduce chronic back pain. Heat and cold therapy may be used to increase blood flow, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain. Ultrasound is another common passive modality used by physical therapists that incorporates deep heating sound waves that penetrate soft tissue.

Not only does this method relieve back pain, it aids in healing of the affected area. A physical therapist may order a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit. This unit helps to overcome the painful signals sent to the brain. It can be used both at home and in the long term. Deep tissue massage is another common therapy for chronic back pain. This manual method increases oxygen and nutrients to the affected areas for healing and also helps reduce muscle spasms and stiffness.

According to the NCBI, “In chronic low back without serious pathology, recommended primary conservative physical treatment preferences include exercise, yoga, biofeedback, progressive relaxation, massage, manual therapy, physical therapy and interdisciplinary rehabilitation. A recent literature review with meta-analysis in patients with chronic lower back pain found moderate- to high-quality evidence that McKenzie exercises in physical therapy were superior to other rehabilitation interventions in reducing pain and disability.”

What else should I know?

As stated by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke,

“While acute pain is a normal sensation triggered in the nervous system to alert you to possible injury and the need to take care of yourself, chronic pain is different. Chronic pain persists. Pain signals keep firing in the nervous system for weeks, months, even years.

There may have been an initial mishap — sprained back, serious infection, or there may be an ongoing cause of pain — arthritis, cancer, ear infection, but some people suffer chronic pain in the absence of any past injury or evidence of body damage. Many chronic pain conditions affect older adults.

Common chronic pain complaints include headache, low back pain, cancer pain, arthritis pain, neurogenic pain (pain resulting from damage to the peripheral nerves or to the central nervous system itself), psychogenic pain (pain not due to past disease or injury or any visible sign of damage inside or outside the nervous system).

A person may have two or more coexisting chronic pain conditions. Such conditions can include chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, interstitial cystitis, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and vulvodynia. It is not known whether these disorders share a common cause.”

Chronic pain affects every person differently. In many cases, the pain continues long after the body is healed from the injury or surgery.

The good news is that physical therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach to pain relief. Your physical therapist has many tools and techniques at their disposal to help relieve and overcome chronic pain.

Chronic pain has a number of symptoms associated with it, apart from the fact that it lasted more than three months.

Here are some of the symptoms commonly associated with chronic aches and pain:

  • Decreased activity: Inactivity due to chronic pain can cause your muscles to weaken and shrink. This can have profound physical effects over time, such as impacting your sense of balance.
  • Decreased circulation: Remaining inactive due to chronic pain reduces your circulation, which means your cells are not receiving a healthy amount of blood and oxygen. This can cause tissues to degenerate and leads to feelings of constant fatigue.
  • Avoiding activities: People with chronic pain become fearful of normal activities. The fear of additional pain can cause people to withdraw from normal physical activities that they enjoy.
  • Stiffness: Muscles and joints may feel stiffer when suffering from chronic pain.
  • Increased weight: People with chronic pain may put on too much weight, which can lead to a host of added problems, from diabetes to heart disease.

Ready to find relief?

If you have chronic back pain, it’s time to take action. Schedule a physical therapy assessment today. Your physical therapist will work with your doctor to develop a personalized treatment plan for your specific condition.

With both active and passive treatment methods, you will be on the road to pain reduction or even elimination. At the end of the road, you will be able to move about your daily life with reduced or no pain in your regular activities!

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Are You Stretching Frequently? If Not, Here are 5 Reasons Why You Should!

Improve Your Health and Wellness by Stretching!

Have you ever noticed how good stretching feels after a nap, when you first wake up in the morning, or after vigorous physical activity?

That good feeling just scratches the surface with the many healthy benefits you can get from regular stretching.

That’s why our physical therapist commonly recommends specific types of stretching exercises to complement other physical therapy modalities.

Why stretching is a big part of PT

Since stretching exercises offer so many important benefits, it’s not hard to see why we use them all the time in physical therapy.

Physical therapy can combine targeted stretches with strength building exercises, massage therapy, ultrasound therapy, heat or cold therapy, and many other techniques to help you feel better and stay healthy.

We can also make sure you are doing the right stretches for your needs and show you how to perform them safely.

Below are five ways you can improve your health, comfort and function by simply stretching!

1. Stress relief

Emotional stress can often turn into physical stress in the form of muscle tension, sleep problems, and suppressed immune function. In other words, it can make you sick!

Stretching exercises can help to release the accumulated tension in your body while also calming your mind.

Stretches that include mindfulness work (such as yoga) can prove especially helpful for easing the stress that might otherwise impair your health.

2. Chronic pain relief

Speaking of pain relief, you may be surprised and delighted to discover how just well stretching can work as a chronic pain management tool.

For instance, certain stretching exercises can undo the painful muscle knots associated with tension headaches or chronic pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia.

Stretching is also recommended to help control arthritis pain and stiffness. Our physical therapist can determine which kinds of stretches will best suit your needs.

3. Increased blood flow

Stretching doesn’t just relax your muscles; it also helps them receive the nourishment they need.

That’s because when your muscles are tight and stiff, blood doesn’t flow through them as easily – and blood contains the oxygen and other nutrients necessary for optimal tissue health and performance.

Stretching to ease that muscle tension gives your circulation a welcome boost. The same effect also helps your tissues rid themselves of unwanted, pain-causing substances such as lactic acid.

4. Injury prevention

Athletic events, physical training, or demanding labor can leave you with a painful strain or sprain, especially if those tissues were “cold” when they were subjected to their burdens.

Gentle, careful stretching before a challenging activity can reduce your risk of acute injury. Stretching immediately after your activity will also remove any muscle tension that may have accumulated during your strenuous activity.

5. Increased flexibility

Are you frustrated because you don’t seem to have the same range of motion that you once did? A variety of musculoskeletal challenges can reduce your flexibility, creating stiffness and making certain motions uncomfortable or even impossible.

Stretching can gently coax the stiffness out of tight tissues. Depending on the cause and location of your stiffness, our physical therapist may prescribe exercises such as hamstring thigh hip, chest, shoulder, upper back, or bicep/tricep stretches to loosen you up and improve your mobility.

So, what else should I know about stretching?

It is also quite common for a physical therapist to prescribe various stretching exercises for individuals suffering from chronic pain conditions. Stretching is of particular importance when you become less mobile due to issues such as osteoarthritis. The less you move your joints, the more likely your muscles and connective tissues will be to lose some of their length.

This change clearly limits your joint motion even further and leaves you in even more pain. Stretching naturally supports PT recommendations such as walking, heat therapy, or massage therapy, in order to increase blood flow to painful joints and widen your pain-free range of motion.

Chronic pain syndromes often involve muscle tightness. Syndromes such as fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome can cause muscle knots that limit muscle movement, resulting in pain to other parts of the body. Regular stretching can help you untie those painful knots.

Get started today!

Are you ready to stretch your way to a happier, healthier lifestyle?

Please contact our PT center today to learn more and schedule an appointment. We don’t stretch the truth when we say we can help!

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Put Down The Painkillers: A PT Can Provide You Better Pain Relief!

On average, 130 people die of an opioid overdose every day in the United States. It’s a stunning statistic that sadly impacts nearly every community in our country since opioid abuse and addiction affect people from all walks of life. Many people who become addicted to painkillers were first prescribed them by a medical doctor to manage an acute or chronic pain condition. The problem is, that opioid medications only hide symptoms of pain—they don’t address the underlying causes, which makes opioids less cost-effective over time. They are also highly addictive and are associated with an increased risk of uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and depression.

Chronic pain is the biggest reason for people turning to opioid use for relief. It’s not the only option you have, however! We can connect you with a compassionate and highly skilled physical therapist who can help you alleviate your arthritis pain along with the other physical and mental symptoms associated with it.

3 Ways Physical Therapy Can Alleviate Your Pain without painkillers.

Unfortunately, in addition to an opioid epidemic in this country, researchers believe there is also a chronic pain epidemic, too.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 5 American adults report chronic pain caused by arthritis and other conditions. If you’re one of them, we encourage you to contact our physical therapy office today to schedule an appointment.

Medications, even opioids, may be appropriate in certain cases. But experts believe people with many types of chronic pain, including arthritis, should try physical therapy first. Here are three ways a physical therapist can help you to feel better, and stop using pain medications as a crutch!

1. Physical therapy will help you to exercise more often.

The better off you feel, the more often you’ll be able to exercise and participate in regular physical activity that can keep you healthier! Working out daily through strength training and aerobic exercise is one of the most effective ways to improve arthritis joint pain. However, if you are always in pain, you may not feel like you’re able to safely workout. This may lead to worsening joint function and even weight gain, which makes arthritis even worse. What to do? This is where physical therapy comes in.

Working with a physical therapist can help you manage your pain so you can get back to doing the activities you know are good for your body. A physical therapist can also assist you in learning how to move more safely, such as by teaching you efficient methods to move or pacing yourself so you don’t wind up being dangerous or doing so much that you end up laying in bed for days after your workout.

By fitting you for adaptive equipment such as canes, crutches, orthotics, and braces, our physical therapists can help you problem-solve and compensate for mobility constraints. These devices can be valuable tools that make you safer and more independent as you set out on your pain-relief journey.

2. Physical therapy addresses pain at its source.

Yes, physical therapy is great for alleviating pain symptoms, but therapists can also find the source of your pain as well!

Physical therapy uses a combination of “passive” and “active” techniques to help people reduce their pain and improve their overall health and well-being. Unlike medication, physical therapy services can make you feel better while also correcting the underlying issues contributing to your condition.

Weak muscles or aberrant movement patterns, for example, might induce or exacerbate arthritis joint pain by increasing pressure in the affected joint. Physical therapy treatments such as therapeutic exercises and joint mobilizations can assist to alleviate these symptoms while reducing pain, and inflammation, and improving joint range of motion.

Joint mobilization techniques, including spinal manipulation, can also modulate your nervous system and trigger the release of powerful pain-relieving chemicals in your body for significant relief and whole-body healing.

Other techniques your physical therapist may offer you for your arthritic joint pain include:

  • Exercises to improve balance, coordination, and strength
  • Breathing exercises
  • Soft tissue mobilization and massage
  • Modalities like electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and diathermy
  • Kinesiotaping
  • Training to improve posture and ergonomic setup at work or home

3. You’ll better understand your pain.

A person’s beliefs and fears about pain strongly influence how bad their pain feels and how long it lasts. Many things like stress, temperature, movement, and even acute illnesses like the flu or common cold can also make your chronic joint pain feel worse.

Research-backed techniques such as therapeutic neuroscience education (TNE) allow a physical therapist to help you explore your beliefs about pain and understand why pain happens. Simply increasing awareness is proven to help people feel less fearful of pain and be in better control of their symptoms. This is strikingly different than simply taking a pill and hoping it’ll make your pain go away.

According to the CDC, prescription opioids are not considered the best choice for many types of non-cancer-related chronic pain, including arthritis. Nonopioid approaches like physical therapy are the preferred first line of treatment.

A great physical therapist can help you live with less pain without relying on pricey and potentially harmful medications, and in many cases can help you avoid surgery.

Don’t let chronic pain control your life any longer

Living with chronic pain is a challenging situation that so many of our patients — and even some of our loved ones — have to face. Trust that we are here to help you, and we genuinely care about your wellbeing. If you’d like to finally see if drug-free pain relief is possible for you, contact our physical therapy clinic today to schedule an appointment.

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5 Reasons You Might Need Physical Therapy

Our physical therapists in Dublin, GA work with older adults, men, women, and children who are dealing with a variety of acute and chronic health issues at our clinic. But we can assist with more than just pain! Our physical therapists have all completed advanced training in anatomy, human movement, and other areas. This means that physical therapy can help you improve your function and quality of life in a variety of ways, as well as a variety of signs and symptoms other than “just” pain that we can alleviate and address at the source.

Ever wondered if physical therapy could help you? Keep reading to see our top signs that it may be time to consult with a physical therapist in your area.

Could you benefit from seeing a physical therapist?

If you’re experiencing any of the following conditions, symptoms, or problems, it’s a good idea to see a physical therapist for a thorough assessment as soon as possible!

1. You’re feeling off-balance and uncoordinated.

Balance and coordination loss can develop naturally as people age, but it can also happen as a result of events such as a stroke or nerve injury caused by diabetes or radiculopathy. These changes can sometimes result in falls, which not only pose a danger of harm but also make a person fearful of falling again.

Unfortunately, studies have shown that a person’s fear of falling might keep them from moving around, which further adds to their frailty and unbalance. And the weaker a person is, the more likely they are to fall again. What a symbiotic relationship!

A physical therapist can help you or a loved one improve their balance, coordination, motor control, and awareness of their surroundings. We help you regain the confidence and physical abilities you need to be safer and more active in your daily life through exercises and instruction. In rare circumstances, we may also recommend adapted equipment and gadgets to help you perform better and stay safe.

2. You’re experiencing dizzy spells.

Vertigo (the sense that the room is spinning around you) and dizziness can be quite disruptive to your daily life. These symptoms might have a variety of origins, but they are frequently a marker of vestibular disorders like benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

A physical therapist is educated in the diagnosis and treatment of BPPV and can recommend a variety of treatments, including the Epley’s maneuver and gaze stability exercises, to help reduce the discomfort. In many situations, persons with BPPV get near-complete symptom relief after just one or two sessions!

3. Your joints feel weak, stiff, or unstable.

In addition to pain, our physical therapy patients also come to us with concerns about other ailments like joint stiffness or hypomobility, joint instability or hypermobility, weakness, numbness, and tingling. This often coincides with other symptoms such as decreased activity tolerance and fatigue.

Exercises, non-invasive modalities, manual therapy, and the prescription of orthotics and other adaptive devices can all be incredibly helpful and provide a more cost-effective solution than medications.

4. You’ve sustained a sport or work-related injury.

It could be time to consult with a physical therapist is if you have experienced any sort of acute traumatic event, like a fall, auto accident, or injury on the job or during an athletic event. Even if you feel “fine” immediately after the incident, there still could be underlying tissue damage that simply isn’t noticeable right away. This is because stress hormones like adrenaline can mask pain and signs of tissue injury in your body…at least until they return to their pre-accident levels.

By consulting with a physical therapist ASAP after an accident, we can help identify warning signs of tissue damage and initiate early treatment to reduce inflammation and prevent further damage. And unlike medication, physical therapy can also help address underlying factors, like weak or short muscles, that either contributed to the event in the first place or may otherwise delay your healing.

5. You’ve received a new health diagnosis or experienced a change in everyday function.

A physical therapist is licensed to treat a wide number of health conditions. So, if you recently received a new diagnosis, consider finding out if a physical therapist can be a helpful part of your medical team!

Conditions we treat at our physical therapy clinic include:

  • Amputations
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Low back pain
  • Pelvic floor dysfunction
  • Musculoskeletal conditions like muscle strains, ligament sprains, tendonitis, bursitis, and impingement syndrome
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
  • Sciatica
  • Neurological conditions including Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis
  • Autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis
  • Pediatric conditions including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and sensory processing disorders
  • Debility and weakness following prolonged hospitalization or treatment for an illness such as cancer, the flu, or COVID-19
  • Post-operative recovery from things like joint replacement and heart surgery

Call a physical therapist today for help

A physical therapist can work with you to provide efficient and effective relief from a range of concerns and health issues. Whether you have chronic pain or some other health concern, we invite you to call our physical therapy clinic today to schedule an appointment. It’d be our honor to join you on your journey toward better health and function!