Chronic pain affects 51.6 million people in the United States, negatively impacting their quality of life, mobility, and mental well-being. While medications and surgeries are often prescribed for pain relief, physical therapy has emerged as a crucial component of comprehensive Bethesda chronic pain management strategies.
Bethesda Physiocare strives to provide medication-free pain relief for Maryland residents. We believe in offering individual care for persistent pain. Contact us online or call (301) 656-5618 to learn more!
What is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists beyond the normal healing time of an injury or condition. Typically, chronic pain lasts for three months or longer. It may result from musculoskeletal disorders, nerve damage, autoimmune diseases, or psychological factors. Chronic pain can manifest in different body areas, including the back, neck, joints, and muscles. Individuals may experience symptoms such as stiffness, weakness, and reduced mobility.
How Physical Therapy Can Help Chronic Pain Management
Physical therapy can help with chronic pain management by addressing underlying factors contributing to pain, improving physical function, and enhancing overall well-being. Through a range of evidence-based interventions, physical therapists can address each patient’s individual needs and goals.
Pain Relief
Through manual therapy techniques such as massage, joint mobilization, and soft tissue mobilization, physical therapists help alleviate muscle tension, reduce inflammation, and promote relaxation.
Movement Restoration
Chronic pain often leads to movement restrictions, stiffness, and muscle weakness, increasing functional limitations and disability. Physical therapists design tailored exercise programs to restore normal movement patterns, improve flexibility, and strengthen weakened muscles. Targeted exercises focus on improving joint mobility and stability, enhancing physical function, and reducing the risk of further injury.
Education and Self-Management
Our physical therapists believe in the power of education. By offering our patients education on pain neuroscience, biomechanics, and self-care strategies, we can help empower patients to manage their pain effectively. Many times, our clinicians are the first to use patient-friendly terms to thoroughly explain the process of chronic pain. While other providers may limit patients or prevent them from doing activities that cause pain, our goal is to help bridge the gap and gradually expose patients to meaningful movements and activities. Through education and self-treatment strategies we prepare patients with sustainable chronic pain management strategies.
Functional Rehabilitation
Functional rehabilitation focuses on improving an individual’s ability to perform daily activities despite chronic pain. Physical therapists incorporate functional training exercises, task-specific activities, and adaptive equipment to facilitate independence and optimize functional outcomes. Functional rehabilitation promotes holistic recovery and enhances the overall quality of life by addressing physical, cognitive, and psychosocial barriers to function. Our clinic specializes in utilizing advanced technology, including motion tracking, 3-Dimensional resistance training, and virtual reality to increase functional training. Because of our equipment and emphasis on externally focused exercise, our patients typically report having fun during their rehab!
Psychosocial Support
Chronic pain often has psychological and emotional implications, including depression, anxiety, and social isolation. Physical therapists recognize the interconnectedness of physical and emotional well-being and provide supportive care to address psychosocial factors contributing to pain. Techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and relaxation training help individuals cope with pain-related distress and improve mental health outcomes. When appropriate we refer to our on-site mental health therapist.
Medication-Free Chronic Pain Management in Bethesda
At Bethesda Physiocare, you’ll get individualized attention and care. Get the pain relief you deserve by contacting us online or calling (301) 656-5618 to schedule a 1:1 session today!
