Natural Pain Relief Through Physical Therapy
In the midst of the opioid crisis, natural pain relief has never been more important than right now. It’s undeniable that various prescription pain relievers can have negative health effects — from addiction to stomach and kidney problems.
Yet, as we learn more about the body and achieving optimal health, there’s a growing trend where individuals are moving away from drug-based treatments to more holistic and natural remedies.
In many ways, physical therapy is paving the way when it comes to stimulating healing through the body’s natural mechanisms. According to Dr. Evelyn Mora, owner of Healers of Motion Physical Therapy in Pembroke Pines, Florida, the body is very capable of healing and pain relief — when given the right tools and environment to do so.
So, let’s dig into this topic a little deeper.
What’s the problem with pain medication? And how can physiotherapy help you heal naturally?
The Problem With Pain Killers
Research shows that pain relief medication has various negative side effects including:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Weakness
- Fatigue
Ultimately, these side effects drastically impact a person’s quality of life. These side effects have even been associated with decreased work productivity and decreased daily functioning.
More specifically, studies indicate that the chronic use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs) may result in an increased risk of peptic ulcers, acute kidney failure, and stroke or heart attack. Meanwhile, research shows that chronic opioid therapy is associated with fractures, hormonal imbalances, sleep disorders, and overdoses.
When it comes to your health and well-being, none of this is good. While you may no longer feel pain, you expose yourself to a whole list of problems and health issues. And this has left various healthcare practitioners and patients wondering if these medications are worth it.
Undeniably, your doctor or yourself might base this decision on your specific situation and health issue. However, in many cases of chronic and acute pain, physical therapy can help a person improve their pain levels, without such drastic and chemically-induced side effects.
How Physical Therapy Helps Relieve Your Pain
“At Healers of Motion we offer an alternative to traditional drugs. We provide physical therapy which uses the body’s innate healing abilities to help you overcome pain and get back to the activities you love” says Dr Mora.
So, how does physical therapy achieve this?
1. Prescribed Exercise
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 60 to 70% of individuals will experience low back pain at some point in their life. Yet, various research shows the effectiveness of exercise in reducing and eliminating non-specific back pain.
Exercise helps do this by strengthening the affected areas, relieving muscular tension, and encouraging increased blood flow, which brings the cells necessary for healing to the affected site.
2. Manual Therapy
Exercise aside, research also shows that early physical therapy intervention can help reduce opioid use in individuals experiencing shoulder, neck, knee, or low back pain. And manual therapy plays a big part in this.
Manual therapy techniques help relieve pain by elongating tightened muscles, relieving muscular knots or adhesions, creating space within a joint, and reducing joint inflammation.
Dr Mora explains that the foundation of her treatment is being able to provide one on one hands on manual therapy with each patient, specifically targeting their area of concern. “I don’t believe in simply putting my patients on a piece of exercise equipment for 30 minutes and calling it quality physical therapy. I can provide much more benefit with targeted hands on, manual techniques specific to their needs.” she says.
3. Hot & Cold Therapy
In addition to exercise and manual therapy, hot or cold therapy is frequently used to help address a patient’s pain. Hot therapy can help reduce pain by relaxing tense muscles. Meanwhile, cold therapy can help decrease pain by reducing blood flow, which reduces inflammation or swelling that may cause pain.
At Healers of Motion Physical Therapy, Dr Evelyn Mora is here to help you address your pain in a more natural and healthy way. Drugs aren’t the only answer. In fact, they shouldn’t be. Allow our team to be your guide when it comes to natural pain relief.
When searching for the best physical therapy, always be sure to look for a therapist who works with you one on one, and spends time providing you the best hands on care possible.
Additionally, we are partnered with Pembroke Pines Acupuncture, providing additional holistic approaches to managing and eliminating a variety of issues causing pain in the body.
Book your appointment by calling us at 954-861-0252.
Let’s get you back to feeling your best!!