Get Rid of Those Persistent Pains Once and For All With Athletic Advantage
Pain is a respectable physical response that lets us know when there is something wrong with our bodies. For example, if you accidentally touch a hot stove top, your immediate reaction is to pull your hand away. Your brain recognizes the pain that the hot stove top causes, sometimes even before you realize it yourself. Your brain knows that if you keep your hand on that hot surface any longer, there is a possibility that you may sustain a serious injury.
However, sometimes pain occurs outside of the traditional realm. Sometimes, our bodies may feel pain due to an underlying condition that we have no control over. When we experience pain, it can linger for hours, days, weeks, or even months. When pain persists for three months or longer, it is categorized as “chronic pain.” If you have been suffering from chronic pain and you are seeking relief, contact Athletic Advantage Physical Therapy today to schedule an appointment with one of our physical therapists.
Why does chronic pain occur?
Most chronic pain cases are rooted in the musculoskeletal system, which consists of your bones, muscles, joints, and connective tissues. Any type of pain you experience – whether it’s a headache, back pain, joint pain, nerve pain, etc. – can become chronic if it lasts for three months or longer. Here our physical therapist gives some of the most common reasons why chronic pain occurs are:
Overuse Injuries. Your gait, posture, stance, and the ways in which you work or exercise can all take a toll on your body if you are not careful. Overuse injuries are common conditions that develop when part of the body is used in excessive repetitive motions over a period of time. Most overuse injuries occur when improper techniques are used, causing an abnormal strain on the affected body part. When this happens, your joints and muscles can become damaged, thus resulting in chronic pain. Physical therapy can help you learn how to properly move your body in your everyday life, in order to avoid overuse injuries.
Accidents. According to a 2016 statistic found by OSHA, workplace injuries happen to approximately 2.9 out of every 100 employees. A study published by the journal Pain also states that 21% of people involved in motor vehicle accidents develop chronic, widespread pain in the weeks following their accident. While this pain won’t go away on its own, seeking the help of a physical therapist can help in alleviating it. Any accident can lead to chronic pain, whether it occurs in the workplace, in a motor vehicle, or even in your own home. PT treatments can help provide relief for any accident-related chronic pain.
Surgery. Unfortunately, surgical procedures are sometimes unavoidable. When surgery is necessary to correct a certain painful condition, the recovery period itself may prove to be just as painful. Surgical repair of an area on the body may be enough to correct a structural problem, but we often compensate in our movement for the pain we experience. Weeks, months, or even years of compensatory movement often causes additional pain after surgery, if said movement is not corrected. Physical therapy offers both pre-surgical and post-surgical rehabilitation services that can help relieve pain, speed up recovery time, and reduce the risk of developing chronic pain in the future.
Disease. There are a large variety of diseases that can lead to chronic pain, including multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, neuropathy, arthritis, and diabetes. The chronic pain experienced from these conditions can range from dull to severe, but it can be managed or even alleviated completely with physical therapy.
Consulting with a physical therapist can help you improve physically, recover from injuries quicker, and prevent injuries from happening in the future. To schedule your appointment with one of our experienced physical therapists, give Athletic Advantage Physical Therapy a call today! You can get back in the game and reach your peak with a detailed physical therapy program that’s created especially for you.