Everyone’s been there; you feel a twinge of pain, and your automatic reaction is to reach for the painkillers. But if a dose of Tylenol isn’t solving the issue, you might well need to look at the root cause of your pain; could it be that you have a condition that requires more thorough treatment?
Many are turning to physical therapies for a gentler, more holistic way to approach pain reduction. They tend to be more targeted, and better for your system as a whole, rather than the approach of slapping on a bandaid and hoping for the best. But which conditions will it work for?
Read on for a list of common conditions treated by physical therapy.
1. Endometriosis
With 1 in 10 women suffering from this illness, the world is finally catching up to the importance of researching it, but we aren’t yet anywhere near a cure; the best management a doctor will prescribe is hormonal. If this doesn’t sound ideal, or isn’t working for you, you’ll want to turn to a different type of treatment.
Given everyone’s symptoms present differently, and the growth can happen in a variety of places, it makes sense to opt for a personalized approach to your treatment, such as one offered by physical therapy. You could get relief from excessive endometrial pain with myofascial release or perhaps pelvic floor therapy.
2. Urinary incontinence
A very common condition that we are starting to destigmatize is urinary incontinence. As we should – so many people experience it for a variety of reasons, including the miracle of childbirth.
But while it’s great that we are removing shame from this condition, it is still unpleasant for anyone to experience. With pelvic floor physical therapy, you can work on strengthening this part of your anatomy and take back control of your urinary health.
3. Sciatica
If you’ve ever suffered from sciatica, you know about it. The pinching pain from your back nerves is both acute and unmistakable, and can affect your legs as well. It’s a good idea to speak to a physical therapist if you are suffering so you can work together on how to best go about alleviating your condition.
4. Carpal tunnel syndrome
People in professions which heavily use their hands can be at risk of developing carpal tunnel, whereby a nerve gets trapped in the wrist. Symptoms range from tingling and numbness to acute pain, so it’s a good idea to deal with it as soon as you are diagnosed. A great physical therapy for this is myofascial release to help restore the blood flow to the area.
5. Low back pain
Having lower back pain can be debilitating; you don’t just struggle to pick things up, but to sit, and even to sleep. You can receive physical therapy for back pain to relieve issues such as muscular spasms and joint pain. Techniques such as trigger point release can release knots, helping you to realign your whole body.
6. Sports Hernias
Athletic pubalgia, or sports hernias as they are more commonly known, are a painful condition. Caused by a strain or a tear to soft tissue in the lower abdomen or groin, they tend to get progressively worse over time until they require intervention.
You can take control of this by treating your hernia with targeted pelvic floor therapy, to help you release any built tension in the area, and by working on alignment if you are unbalanced.
7. Headaches
People who suffer from regular headaches, or worse, migraines, know how debilitating this can be. It may surprise you to learn this is one of many conditions treated by physical therapy, but if it is caused by strain, you could benefit from occipital neuralgia headache treatment or CranioSacral therapy.
8. Whiplash
If you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident, you were probably warned by your physician to go easy for a couple of days to see how your neck responds. Fortunately, physical therapy for neck pain can address this, helping you to restore mobility. It’s recommended to take the whole body into account as you are treated, since the neck is such a crucial part of the spinal system.
9. Fibromyalgia
This is another condition which the medical world has yet to truly get to the bottom of when it comes to its causes. The fatigue and pain that come from fibromyalgia are often just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the symptoms that can follow.
Once you’ve received a diagnosis, you can work with a physical therapist on restoring your quality of life by carefully working on your joints and muscles, using techniques such as deep tissue massage, stretching and trigger point release.
10. Frozen shoulder
A frozen shoulder can seriously inhibit your ability to go about your daily life; simple tasks like dressing can become a chore. You can work with a physiotherapist to restore your range of motion using physical therapy and a combination of hot and cold therapies, among other treatments.
