Understanding A Physio’s Role In Alleviating Pain

Pain is a debilitating condition that affects your quality of life, movement and mobility. When this happens, long term medication use isn’t always a safe or affordable option. Physiotherapists can play a critical role in helping patients manage acute and chronic pain experienced throughout the body without the use of drugs. Common pain conditions that can be treated at a Kingsland physio Auckland clinic include headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, nerve pain, repetitive stress injuries and conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. Physiotherapists usually rely on three main approaches (often, a combination of approaches is utilised) to help patients alleviate pain:

1. Educate And Advise

Through education and advice, physiotherapists can help patients understand why pain occurs. This understanding is useful in pain management treatment being effective and in shortening your overall treatment time. It can keep the pain from worsening and help you feel more in control of your treatment by pinpointing exactly which muscles or joints are responsible for what you’re currently feeling.

2. Motivate And Prescribe

Patients experiencing chronic pain in the body may prefer laying prostrate on their bed instead of getting up and moving about or using medication such as paracetamol to ease the pain. A more preferred method to overcoming chronic pain – and for lasting and long term relief –is through exercise and movement. Lack of physical movement will result in decreased mobility and muscle strength, which can worsen painful symptoms in patients and keep them from working and socialising.

Through our years of experience and using an evidence-based practice, we believe that a combination of manual treatment and muscle re-education is the most effective treatment. A regular safe exercise routine, as prescribed by a physiotherapist, is best to help patients manage pain and improve overall health.

3. Use Manual Therapy Techniques

Physiotherapists can offer a diverse array of manual treatments to alleviate pain in addition to movement-based exercises. These include acupuncture, electrotherapy and soft tissue massage, among other techniques. The benefits of manual therapies are that they offer improved blood circulation, reduce muscle stiffness, drain excess fluids and help patients relax more effectively.

Do you need a treatment plan to help you manage your neck pain, knee pain or headaches? Book a consultation with one of our physiotherapists at Cairnhill Physiotherapy. We’ll be happy to assess your condition and tailor a personalised treatment plan for you. For a physio clinic in Kingsland, Auckland, give us a call.