Pain Management
Pain, while uncomfortable, has a useful evolutionary purpose; It lets us know when we are sick or injured so that we can prevent further injury and safeguard our survival.
In small measure, pain can be a useful and motivating factor, but when pain persists long after the threat or cause has gone it can interrupt our ability to function and our lower quality of life.
When pain becomes a problem in your life, physiotherapy can help manage your pain symptoms.
Different types of pain
Broadly speaking, pain can be characterised as acute or chronic. Acute pain is immediate but short-lived, whereas chronic pain refers to pain that lasts for several weeks or longer.
Acute pain is often easy to treat with over-the-counter medication and rest, whereas chronic pain is much more complicated and may have psychosocial causes.
How can physiotherapy help with pain management?
Physiotherapy is a core part of multidisciplinary approaches to treat pain. Clinical trials have shown physiotherapy is an effective solution for many common causes of pain such as injury (see our page on tennis elbow), disease (see our page on arthritis), headache, or recovery from surgery (see our page on rehabilitation).
Physiotherapy can help treat both acute and chronic pain and is also useful for pain management in amputees.
Physiotherapy can help alleviate pain symptoms, increase strength to help prevent injury and relieve stress. It empowers people to manage their pain symptoms.
Approaches to pain management
Pain can be a complex condition, which requires multiple approaches to treat. At Physio SA we take a multi-modal approach to pain management, including:
- Patient education: Understanding the causes and responses to pain is vital for managing chronic pain.
- Exercise and activity: Strengthening the body and increasing flexibility can help relieve pain symptoms.
- Behaviour management: Avoiding certain activities may be necessary to manage pain.
- Electrical stimulation: Stimulation can be used to treat many forms of pain.
Come and see us
Our team of experienced physiotherapists can diagnose and manage the many different causes of pain. If you experience acute or chronic pain, book in to see us today and we can help you live a pain-free life.
