Physical Therapy for Chronic Pain
Nearly one-third of all people will experience chronic pain. It is the most common cause of long-term disability and can severely impact your quality of life. Examples of the types of pain we treat are:
- Headaches or facial pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
- Carpal and radial tunnel syndrome
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Abdominal or pelvic pain
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
- Neuropathies (like diabetes)
- Nervous system disorders
- Pain after surgery
Physical therapy techniques
Many of our therapists specialize in caring for patients with persistent, chronic pain. To reduce discomfort and improve function and flexibility, we use specialized therapeutic techniques, including:
Myofascial release
This effective, hands-on technique provides gentle, sustained pressure directly to muscles and other soft tissues to eliminate pain and restore function.
Craniosacral therapy
The craniosacral system consists of the central nervous system, brain and spinal cord. Treating an imbalance or restriction within this system can alleviate a wide range of illnesses, pain and dysfunction. This gentle, hands-on technique influences natural body motions and rhythms.
Visceral manipulation
Through gentle manipulation, we encourage the normal mobility, tone and motion of the organs and their connective tissues. Visceral manipulation can improve the functioning of individual organs, the systems the organs function within and the structural integrity of the entire body.
Strain/counterstrain
Specific tender points can occur as a result of tissue changes. This technique eliminates these tender points by placing the muscle in a relaxed position for 90 seconds. This 90-second treatment allows the muscle to return to its normal resting length and allow normal joint movement.
Kinesio tape
Unlike traditional medical tape, Kinesio tape has unique elastic properties that allow movement of a joint and muscle through a safe, pain-reduced range of motion.
Sympathetic Therapy System (STS)
STS is a highly effective treatment for the relief of chronic pain. Many chronic pain conditions are "sympathetically biased" and have no identifiable origin. Sometimes pain may be associated with the sympathetic nervous system itself rather than from an injury or trauma to the body long since healed. STS is a non-invasive, non-addictive technique that uses electrical current to "normalize" the sympathetic nervous system and deliver its effective therapeutic benefits. (Available at the University Park location.)
Exercise
In order to restore proper motion patterns and re-establish neuromuscular control, a variety of tools such as exercise bands, therapeutic balls, foam rollers and reformer equipment are used.
