Physiotherapy for chronic pain

Chronic pain affects millions of people across the UK, having a detrimental impact on daily life, including emotional and mental wellbeing. This is defined medically as a pain condition that lasts for more than 12 weeks, even after the initial cause has been addressed. Injury, illness, and auto-immune conditions can lead to chronic pain, and while medication can help, physical treatments can provide longer lasting relief. Physiotherapy is one of the most effective and popular options. But what is physiotherapy? And what do you need to know about physiotherapy for chronic pain?

What is physiotherapy?

So first of all, what exactly is physiotherapy? Well, this is an approach to managing chronic pain that combines a range of different options to provide healing and improved muscle function, ultimately reducing pain. Here at Core Holistic, we offer professional soft tissue therapies, including physiotherapy. 

What does physiotherapy involve?

There are multiple stages and factors involved when it comes to physiotherapy for chronic pain. Generally, this process will begin with an assessment of the underlying causes and conditions, from muscular imbalances to joint dysfunction or poor posture. This assessment will allow a personalised treatment to be devised, which may involve: 

• Exercise therapy- For many chronic pain conditions, tailored exercises can be implemented to strengthen the muscles and improve flexibility. When undertaken regularly, this can help to reduce muscle stiffness by increasing blood flow to the area, and promoting healing. The aim of this is to retrain the body to move in a way that reduces pain and discomfort, and for the best possible results, consistency is the key. 
• Manual therapy- This is a soft tissue therapy option that takes a hands-on approach to mobilise joints, and massage the affected soft tissue. This can be particularly beneficial for people with chronic pain as it helps to release built up tension in muscles and joints, reducing pain and improving range of motion. For conditions such as arthritis, back pain, and fibromyalgia, manual therapy can provide relief by decreasing muscle tightness and improving joint function.
• Pain education- Another aspect that is associated with physiotherapy is pain education. Understanding the pain that your body is in can help you become more attuned to your body, and notice any changes, and also reduce any anxiety around the pain. This can help to reduce fear of re-injury, and can change how pain signals are interpreted, reducing the experience of pain over time.

Physiotherapy for chronic pain conditions

Physiotherapy is an effective treatment for a wide range of chronic pain conditions, including:

• Chronic back pain- chronic back pain restricts movement and makes daily life painful and difficult. Physiotherapy can be very effective for reducing this pain, with manual therapy from our team here at Core Holistic, helping to improve range of movement, and release muscle tension. 
• Arthritis- Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are both common sources of chronic pain, and our manual physiotherapy can help to reduce this joint pain and stiffness through gentle manipulation and movement.
• Fibromyalgia- This condition causes widespread pain, tiredness, and muscle tenderness. Manual physiotherapy can help to reduce this muscle tenderness, and the pain, by manipulating muscles and applying the perfect amount of pressure to increase blood flow. 

For more information about our soft tissue therapies, including physiotherapy, get in touch with Preston’s leading experts today, here at Core Holistic.