Functional Rehabilitation Center

Two reasons to try physical therapy for chronic pain

Pain can make the most routine activities much harder to do.  When you’re living with long-term pain, you can feel like your independence is slowly eroding away. There are many treatment options for chronic pain conditions, but physical therapy can be particularly helpful. Here are two reasons you should consider seeking physical therapy for chronic pain:

1.   Helps improve your knowledge

One reason you should try physical therapy as a treatment for chronic pain is it helps improve your knowledge. As the old saying informs us, knowledge is power. Physical therapists can help you gain knowledge that can help you gain more power over your pain. 

They can help you understand the root cause of your pain. Therapists can also help you learn how chronic pain conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia typically progress. This information can allow you to make better lifestyle choices, and these choices may help you function better with chronic pain. 

Also, physical therapy practitioners understand how your diet can increase or decrease your pain. This can help you make more informed dietary choices. Therapists can also help you learn about specific treatments that can help target your pain. For example, physical therapists can teach you how a hands-on technique called manual therapy can help people reduce the pain of many injuries and medical conditions.  

2.   Helps you stay active

One of the most common mistakes that people with chronic pain make is not moving enough. Instinctively, it may feel like movement should increase pain, but in many cases, the opposite is true. Another of the primary benefits of physical therapy for chronic pain is it teaches you how best to move to minimize your pain. 

Your therapist can show you many types of exercises that can decrease pain. One such exercise type is range-of-motion exercises. Range of motion is how far in each direction a body part can move, and chronic pain conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia can lead to decreased range of motion. By showing many different exercises, therapists can help you improve your range of motion. They can also help you find the best movements for stretching and strengthening your body, and therapists can even help you learn exercises you can do at home to treat chronic pain. 

SOL Physical Therapy offers physical therapy for chronic pain

If you’re looking for effective physical therapy for your chronic pain, SOL Physical Therapy is here to help. Our team has experience treating many chronic pain conditions, and we offer individualized treatment plans designed to target your specific needs. These multifaceted therapy plans may include therapy techniques such as: 

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment to begin treating your chronic pain. 

About the author

Sports + Orthopedic Leaders Physical Therapy & Performance Training serves the communities of Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, Walnut Creek, Orinda, San Francisco and beyond. SOLPT’s award winning team of Physical Therapists, Performance Coaches and movement experts has helped thousands reach their rehabilitation and performance goals to move beyond pain. We're committed to helping anyone of any fitness level move effectively and more powerfully for a lifetime. We offer rehabilitation and performance services to all populations, with specialties in Sports Rehabilitation, Active Release Techniques, and Manual Therapy Techniques plus Personal and Small Group Training, Sport Clinics and Wellness Services.

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