Physical therapy is a treatment method designed for patients of all ages with medical conditions, injuries, or illnesses. Physical therapy is one of the best choices you may make if you suffer from acute or chronic pain. It can make you stronger and help you move and feel better. 

 

Physical therapy is beneficial in encouraging active and healthy lifestyle changes for improving overall health and well-being. Physical therapists have expertise not only in treating the pain or the symptoms but also in treating the source. A trained and experienced physical therapist would treat those areas with specific exercises to ease pain and help you move better. 

 

Physical Therapy Exercises For Relieving Pain

Exercise is a very common and one of the most valuable treatments in treating both acute and chronic pain. Various exercises in physical therapy can help treat your pain and discomfort. A trained and experienced team of physical therapists can be very useful. Let’s have a look at some of these exercises.

 

  • Cardio Exercises – Cardiovascular exercise has many benefits, including physical and mental benefits. Both can be very helpful for people suffering from acute or chronic conditions. Cardio can be done any time of day and often requires little or no equipment. Following are some of the most common cardio exercises:

 

  • Walking – Walking for about 30 minutes 3 to 5 times a week can be very useful in increasing your strength, endurance, and heart health. If walking feels like a challenging task, you must start slow and walk your way as long as possible till you get stronger. 

 

  • Swimming and Water Aerobics – It is considered one of the excellent opportunities to walk with people suffering from various mobility issues. It is regarded as a low-impact cardiovascular exercise that keeps you moving without adding stress to your joints. 

 

  • Relaxation Exercises – Relaxation exercises are very important for a lot of people who may be living with chronic pain. Visualization usually requires no equipment and can also be done anywhere. 

 

For doing the exercise, you should lie on your back or any other comfortable position on your bed or your floor. Then place both of your hands on your belly and try relaxing your shoulder and also your feet. Then you should close your eyes by taking a deep breath through your nose. You should exhale through your mouth to release all the air. 

 

You must continue breathing in through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Then you must continue this pattern and visualize pain leaving your body with every breath. 

 

  • Stretching Exercises – If you are suffering from pain in your lower back or your neck, stretching exercises can be very beneficial in relieving the tension and stiffness in your neck. Various equipment-free stretches can be very helpful for treating both back and neck pain. 

 

  • Strengthening Exercises – Building strength is essential for stabilizing the joints and preventing further injuries. It is beneficial in maintaining proper posture and balance and also reduces the risk of further injury leading to more pain. If you are living with chronic pain, core strengthening exercise is essential. 

 

Working with the abdomen’s muscles, hips, and back can improve core strength and stability.  

Pain-Relieving Techniques Used By Physical Therapists

Physical therapists use various pain-relieving techniques to reduce pain and inflammation. Some of them are as follows:

 

  • Pace Yourself – You must pace yourself while employing any pain-relieving techniques. It helps to let you understand your limits and capabilities. It is the road to pain relief.

 

  • Water Exercise – If some of your exercises are highly impactful, water or pool exercise may work great for you. It is a combination of the benefits of regular exercise along with the safety of performing other exercises in the water. It is a low-impact exercise technique that a lot of patients benefit from. 

 

  • Ice – Applying ice is one of the most common pain-relieving techniques used by a physical therapist to reduce swelling and pain in patients. It may not help in treating chronic pain, but it is an idle technique or treatment for treating any swelling and inflammation which may arise due to other techniques and exercises. 

 

  • Heat – Heat is an excellent treatment for injuries related to cramps, muscle tightness, or spasms. It is always an excellent technique to use heat in case you have problems using other pain-relieving physical therapy techniques.

Conclusion

Pain is something that we all may experience, and everyone deals with pain in different ways. Physical therapy is often considered a natural and most common way of treating various types of pain and discomfort. Physical therapy is an ever-changing and evolving field that brings pain relief to many patients each year.