Physical Therapy Pain Relieving Techniques
Sometimes physical therapy treatments can be uncomfortable or even slightly painful as we try to get the most out of our muscles, mobilize scar tissue, or get something to move. However, not all physical therapy techniques are painful! Some, like the ones listed below, are even specifically intended to immediately reduce your pain. Gentle Mobilization Low amplitude joint oscillations are specifically utilized for pain reduction. One of the potential ways this is done is by flooding the system with non-painful stimuli that travel through the nervous system faster than painful stimuli and therefore block them out. Other mechanisms include stimulating release of a substance that prevents nerves from transmitting a pain signal and by decreasing muscle activity and tension. Desensitization Training For some people, even the lightest touch can trigger their intense pain. Desensitization training can come in many forms but the idea is to apply a tolerable amount of stimulation or pressure, another gentle input like rhythmic motion, and slowly increase the stimulation
until non-noxious things like light touch no longer trigger the person's pain. Muscle Relaxation While muscle relaxant medication has a global effect throughout your body, physical therapy techniques can target a specific muscle to relax, sparing the rest of your well- functioning muscles. Techniques include breathing exercises, visualization, contract- relax techniques, soft tissue mobilization, biofeedback, and gentle repeated motions.
Although not every physical therapy technique results in immediatepain-relief,every technique your physical therapist utilizes is for reducing your pain and improving your function in the long-run. Dry needling is a good example of a technique that can be initially painful for some and result in delayed soreness for others but will almost universally result in patients raving about the resulting pain relief by their next visit. Don’t forget, exercises can relieve pain too!
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Email social@bodygears.com with the subject line “Looking for pain-relief” to get a facts sheet on the common household remedies heat, ice, and ointment.
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Exercise of theMonth Try this calming core exercise
Staff Spotlight
Kate McKechnie PT, DPT, CFMT Kate earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree fromLong IslandUniversity inBrooklyn,NYandwas honored to receive the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence. She also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences from Northwestern University. Kate is a Certified Functional Manual Therapist
(CFMT), a Women’s Health Specialist, and clinic manager of the Winnetka clinic. She is experienced with visceral mobilization as well as Functional Dry Needling. Certifications and Training: • Doctor of Physical Therapy • Licensed Physical Therapist by the State of Illinois • APTA/IPTA Member • Certified Functional Manual Therapist (CFMT) • Women’s Health Therapist • Functional Dry Needling, Level 1 & 2 • Winnetka Clinic Manager Education: Long Island University 2011-2014 Doctorate in Physical Therapy and Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence Northwestern University 2006-2010
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing: Lay on your back and place one hand on your breastbone with the other on your stomach. Take a deeper than normal breath in and feel whether one hand rises more or faster than the other. Feel for this on the exhale as well. On your next breath, try to have both hands rise and fall the same amount at the same time. If the movement feels jerky or disjointed, continue practicing until your hands rise and fall together smoothly. Once you've mastered diaphragmatic breathing while laying on your back, try it in sitting and standing. Practice for a minute at a time.
Bachelor of Biological Sciences Certified Massage Therapist, 2002
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