Chronic pain
What is Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for more than three months beyond the normal healing time of an injury or illness. Chronic pain is incredibly complex. There are many causes and is often accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, such as fatigue, sleep disorders and mood problems.
At VMfysio, we offer a comprehensive approach to chronic pain: from exercise therapy and lifestyle therapy to manual therapy, pain education and a multidisciplinary approach.
Physical Therapy Interventions in Chronic Pain.
Exercise Therapy
Exercise therapy is an essential part of physical therapy treatment for chronic pain. Extensive research supports the effectiveness of regular, tailored exercise programs in improving both physical function and pain perception. Exercise therapy includes various forms of exercises, such as aerobic training, strength training, functional exercises, relaxation exercises and flexibility exercises. These exercises not only help improve overall fitness, but can also reduce pain by lowering muscle tension, releasing pain-relieving hormones, changing negative ideas about exercise and improving blood circulation.
Lifestyle Therapy
Lifestyle therapy focuses on identifying and modifying various aspects of daily living that can affect an individual’s health and well-being. This includes nutrition, exercise, sleep patterns, stress management and social interactions. By making positive changes to these lifestyle factors, people with chronic pain can reduce their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.
Manual Therapy
Manual therapy, combined with exercise therapy, is an effective approach for chronic pain. This therapy mobilizes joints, muscles and connective tissue to reduce pain, increase range of motion and restore function. It stimulates nerve endings, reduces muscle tension and promotes the production of natural painkillers.
Multidisciplinary Approach
The management of chronic pain is often complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach. This means that physical therapy is combined with other treatments, such as psychology, occupational therapy and drug therapy. Through this integrated approach, both the physical and psychosocial aspects of chronic pain can be effectively addressed, resulting in better patient care.
Explaining pain
Explaining pain, also known as pain education, is a crucial part of physical therapy treatment for chronic pain. During this process, the therapist explains to you in understandable language what caused the pain and what you can do to reduce the symptoms. This is an incredibly important part of the process. You will be given the tools to independently reduce symptoms.