Do you suffer from consistent pain due to an injury? Have you developed bad posture from sitting scrunched over your computer for the bulk of the day? Are you looking for a solution that doesn’t consist of a cocktail of pills?
Many Australians generally answer yes to all of these questions and it’s with this in mind that they often visit the physio Noosa locals rely on for some much-needed pain relief. If you’re in this situation, then this post is well worth a read.
Effective Solutions for Diverse Ailments
A lot of people are under the impression that you only need to visit a physiotherapist when you have sustained an injury that affects your mobility. The reality is that you can visit your local physio for an extensive range of ailments that have to do with your general function and movement.
Physiotherapists are trained to assess and provide treatment for disorders that limit your ability to perform normal, daily activities such as sitting, walking, and bending. Many people who deal with chronic pain also see physios as part of their pain management regime. Besides this, there are many other conditions that regular physio sessions can assist with. We’ve listed several of the more prominent.
1. Past or Present Injury
The number one reason many people visit a physio is as part of a prescribed rehabilitation program after an injury or surgery. With this type of treatment, your physio will use techniques to rebuild lost flexibility and strength and help you regain ease of movement. We’ve listed several of the more prominent.
These simple techniques include the following:
- RICEM: Physios each of the RICEM techniques (rest, ice, compression, elevation, and gentle movement). This technique is useful for providing pain relief during those 2 am flare-ups when it’s not always possible, or practical to go to your physio’s office.
- Assistive devices: Your physio will also assess the need for assistive devices. They can then prescribe a range of different ones to make movement easier until you’re fully recovered. This can include crutches, moon boots, wheelchairs, walkers, and leg, arm, or back braces. Strapping and tapping ankles, knees, and wrists may also be necessary.
- Movement techniques: During recovery, you may find it difficult to move the injured body parts. Your physio will help you with progressive movement techniques to heal your limbs and start getting movement back to normal.
2. Provide Relief From Breathing Conditions
Physiotherapists don’t only assist with injured muscles and tendons that affect movement. They can also provide relief for a range of different lung and breathing conditions. The goal with these types of treatment isn’t to cure or heal the ailment, but rather teach you a few simple steps to manage the symptoms.
The more common of these include the following:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Asthma
- Sleep apnea
- Excessive phlegm in the airways is often caused by cystic fibrosis
3. Assist with Managing Arthritis Symptoms
Arthritis is a general blanket term that covers a range of joint-related ailments. Your physiotherapist will be able to assist you with various pain management techniques and exercises to help you maintain as much mobility as possible. A few of these ailments include the following:
- Joint swelling
- Regular joint pain that isn’t a result of an accident
- Unexplained muscle and joint stiffness
4. Alleviate Chronic Pain
Living with ongoing pain can seriously affect the quality of your daily life. Not only does chronic pain leave you feeling tired, but you may find it difficult to do simple tasks. While opting for pain medication may often provide short-term relief, it’s not a viable long-term solution.
This is because some pain medications can leave you feeling groggy and also affect your gut health. Your physiotherapist will recommend treatments and exercises that involve your muscles, joints, and nervous system.
Since back and neck pain are the most common body parts where people experience chronic pain, your physio may recommend any of the following:
- Simple stretching techniques to relieve muscle tension. Doing these throughout the day will go a long way to provide relief.
- Massage techniques and soft tissue mobilization to increase pain-free mobility.
- Techniques and exercises to improve general posture during walking and sitting.
- Recommendations of types of ergonomic furniture to provide relief for people who sit at a desk all day. This can include walking workstations, chairs, and tables.
The goal of these techniques is to find more effective ways of doing your everyday activities. This will not only reduce pain but also enable you to go back to doing simple things without as much pain as before.
Additional Conditions That May Benefit from Physiotherapy
Beyond injury recovery and chronic pain, regular physiotherapy can assist with managing headaches, neurological disorders, and even some sports-related performance issues. Headaches caused by muscle tension can be relieved with targeted massage and stretching techniques. In cases where neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis or stroke impair movement, physiotherapy is essential for improving coordination, strength, and independence. Athletes also use physio to enhance flexibility and reduce injury risks, ensuring their bodies remain in peak condition during competitions.
Final Thoughts
With the extensive list of ailments that a physiotherapist can assist with, there’s no need to try and live with chronic pain with no proper solution. Effective pain management is essential for anyone suffering from chronic pain to be able to do the simple activities that are often taken for granted.
If you’re suffering from continuous pain, consider an appointment with your local physio. You may find the much-needed relief that you have been searching for!
