Understanding Pain & How Physical Therapists Can Help By Pradeep Bansal, PT, DPT, OCS
function for patients.
a result of the body’s response to a tissue injury. Pain lasting for over 3 months is generally considered to be chronic pain. Chronic pain, however, is not proportional to the level of tissue injury or damage and can lead to central sensitization of pain. Central sensitization of pain is when the central nervous system (brain) becomes more sensitive to pain pathways. In the presence of central sensitization, or this heightened sensitivity, pain is not proportional to the amount of tissue trauma and patients experience an amplification of pain sensation. Factors that can contribute to increase in pain sensitization are stress, anxiety, depression, social isolation associated with injury, which in turn lead to an increase in sensitization of pain pathways. How Physical Therapists Treat Central Sensitization to Pain Treatment of chronic pain in the presence of central sensitization to pain needs a multidimensional approach. The strategies used are including but not limited to manual therapy, therapeutic exercises and cognitive behavioral approaches. Research on pain education shows that explanation, or education of pain pathways, and altering the threat value of pain, improves outcomes and overall
Graded exposure to activities helps to slowly remove threats without creating a painful response. Physical therapists can assist patients in identifying and limiting contributing factors such as stress, anxiety, depression. Physical therapists can identify signs of central sensitization to Chronic pain using tests and measures and objective questionnaires. Once signs of central sensitization to chronic pain are identified, physical therapists utilize manual therapy techniques to correct musculoskeletal dysfunctions, physical modalities to alter pain, and exercises to improve strength, and flexibility. They work with patients to set up realistic goals and design treatment programs with gradual and incremental intensity to prevent flare ups of pain. Additionally, patients are an active participant in managing their pain. In the end, you must remember that flare ups during return to activity is common. But a careful, strategic plan can help to reduce the stress associated with the pain.
Pain is your body’s natural response to injury. It is a protective system that arises in the brain as a result of a dangerous input (threat) from the environment. Pain is felt at a specific location as a result of a pain pathway that brings the signal from site of injury to the brain via the spinal cord. Pain can be acute pain or chronic pain, depending on how long the symptoms of pain last. Acute pain develops directly as
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Do you have pain while reaching or bending? If you are not moving like you once were. Please don’t hesitate to come in for a check up and get back on track to feeling great again. Call the clinic nearest you today!
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