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The most common reason a person walks into physiotherapy is because of
pain. Our job as physiotherapists is to reduce and eliminate the pain
and hence it’s important to understand each client’s personal experience with pain and their goals.
Pain
starts with interpretation.
It is a process starting from nerves to spinal cord and lastly to brain cortex where the ultimate decision on whether it is pain and how intense the pain is felt is made. Each individual, no matter how big or small the mechanism of injury, processes pain uniquely.
Some example of this can be found in victims
who felt little or any pain even though massive tissue damage occurred
while others go through debilitating pain with no evidence of bone or
tissue damage. Many factors can explain this and one is how the
peripheral system can be stimulated by our own body chemistry
(neuropeptides) to create more receptors and hence send more signals to
the brain to perceive more pain (Butler & Moseley, 2013).
It has been shown that pain can be amplified by one’s
emotions and past experiences. Poor attitude, negative emotions, being
upset, anxiety, and sadness can influence how much pain is felt. There
is acute pain that warns the body of immediate harm or injury. And
there is chronic pain, pain that is felt more than 6 months (Louw et al,
2011).
Just pain itself demonstrates why each treatment requires
individualized approach in hands-on treatment, proper exercise and
education to re-start that connection between the body and brain to
interpret the decrease of pain. As part of regaining power over the
body, it is the clinician’s job to reduce the anxiety or fear of
movement to move toward good clinical outcome (Moseley, 2012).
What
is most important in this process is getting back to moving properly.
During the process of dealing with pain whether for 1 week or a few
months, movement is changed to protect the painful area. Issues arising
from adopted poor movement patterns, over-exposure to static
positioning, loss of functional range of motion, stability and/or
balance all contribute to the breakdown of good movement (Silfies et al,
2017).
To get each client back to proper movement, a plan is set for each specific diagnosis:
Individualized evaluation
There
is no one size fits all even with the same diagnosis as each person
comes with different specific needs as well as different response to
treatments.
Mobility
Any sticking points whether it is joints or
muscles will be addressed with manual skills (a decrease in proper range
of motion will set off a kinetic chain of more issues elsewhere in the
body.)
Stability
Creating proper stable base and proper firing of
muscles will protect joints, create more efficiency in muscle
contraction and improve movement.
Balance
One of the most important factors in creating excellent movement and dynamic stability is the simplicity of balance.
Active and Passive Treatments
Treat the root cause of pain and not just the symptoms: that means incorporating a mix of passive and active treatments customized to the specific condition at the proper stage of rehab. Active treatment is the exercise and movement component of rehab.
Passive treatment includes hands-on treatment with manual skills, use of anti-inflammatory modalities and joint mobilizations and many other techniques. The combination of both treatments in the timing and application is the magic of physio.
References & Citations
Butler, D. S., & Moseley, G. L. (2013). Explain Pain (2nd ed.). Adelaide: Noigroup Publications.
Clarke,
C. L., Ryan, C. G., & Martin, D. J. (2011). Pain neurophysiology
education for the management of individuals with chronic low back pain: A
systematic review and meta-analysis. Manual Therapy, 16(6), 544–549. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2011.05.003
Moseley, G. L. (2012). Teaching people about pain: why do we keep beating around the bush? Pain Management, 2(1), 1–3. http://doi.org/10.2217/pmt.11.73
Louw, A., Diener, I., Butler, D. S., & Puentedura, E. J. (2011). The effect of neuroscience education on pain, disability, anxiety, and stress in chronic musculoskeletal pain. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 92(12), 2041–2056. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2011.07.198
Silfies, S. P., Vendemia, J. M., Beattie, P. F., Stewart, J. C., & Jordon, M. (2017). Changes in Brain Structure and Activation May Augment Abnormal Movement Patterns: An Emerging Challenge in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. Pain Medicine,18(11), 2051-2054. doi:10.1093/pm/pnx190
Call or WhatsApp / SMS your name, preferred date, time and inquiries to +6588001830
Email any questions on symptoms / condition / insurance / preferred physiotherapy timings to nigel@phoenixrehabgroup.com
Phoenix Clinic Locations
Phoenix Rehab Group works with specialist physiotherapists and rehab therapists who are highly trained, qualified, experienced and passionate to provide high level of expert care to our patients.
HAND THERAPY & SPLINTING
Patients who sustained injuries to their elbows, forearms, hands, wrists (sprains and fractures) and fingers, usually will benefit / require Hand Therapy to increase the function of their hand following injuries or post-operations as well as custom made hand splints.
Commonly treated hand pain injuries includes
CLINICAL PILATES & WELLNESS PILATES
Clinical Pilates is a form of physical exercise that focuses on posture, core stability, balance, control, strength, flexibility and breathing.
It is a system of safe and effective exercises, which meet specific individual needs, to treat a wide range of injuries and conditions.
You may do Pilates as matwork or with the reformer or both, and every session will be customized 100% to your fitness, injury and tolerance.
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)
DEEP TISSUE RELEASE & SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPY
Sports and deep tissue release massage helps to increase nutrient-rich blood flow to tired, tight and tense muscles to
It also prevents muscles from scar tissue micro-tears (and potential ruptures), and increases muscle performance.
Done regularly, it will keeps your muscles healthy and fit with body/movement-confidence. Read the benefits of regular deep tissue release therapy here.
ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
All our allied health therapists and TCM physicians are fully insured and registered with Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Board (TCMB).
See our entire team here with introductions and their specializations.
At the first session, our specialist physiotherapists will carry out a thorough assessment, helping them to select the most appropriate treatment to help you recover as well as provide treatment in the same session.
Follow up sessions are inline to provide expert treatment for your pain as well as prescribing specific exercises to reduce your risk of re-injury and giving you a long term solution.
We appreciate you as our valued clients and want you to know that the # 1 way we grow as a clinic / brand is through word of mouth referrals from valued patients like yourself.
We do not rely on advertising - instead, we prefer and appreciate the goodwill and positive reinforcement from patients. When you have the chance, please tell your family, friends and physicians about the positive results and experience you have had in our physio clinics.
Call or WhatsApp / SMS your name, preferred date, time and inquiries to +6588001830
Email any questions on symptoms / condition / insurance / preferred physiotherapy timings to nigel@phoenixrehabgroup.com
Phoenix Clinic Locations