An estimated three million people—including children—deal from chronic pain in Ontario alone. Chronic pain is defined as any pain that is persistent, lasting for three months or longer. It can vary in intensity, ranging from moderate to severe. Moreover, it can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, and race.

Often, chronic pain leads to reduced quality of life due to the health issues it causes; this includes emotional distress, physical decline, and limited functional ability.

Chronic pain can even occur without any tissue damage. Severe chronic pain impacts life significantly, resulting in the inability to work, play, and participate in social activities.

The good news is that chronic pain can be effectively managed with physiotherapy. The multidimensional approach that physiotherapists use to treat the pain in a holistic manner focuses on improving quality of life.

Here are some facets of physiotherapy that help in pain management:

Patient Education:

Patient education is the key to treating chronic pain. Many people are fearful of doing anything that might exacerbate the painful condition, often lacking an understanding of what might be causing the pain.

Comprehensive physiotherapy treatment includes patient education, which focuses on increasing the understanding of patients.

Exercise Therapy:

In a lot of cases, patients are advised to not move when in pain. However, physiotherapists prescribe customized exercise plans that are pain-free or pain-reducing to help patients become mobile again.

Each exercise that’s recommended by expert physiotherapists focuses on the area and the intensity of an individual’s pain, as well as their overall health.

Manual Therapy and Soft Tissue Treatments:

Chronic pain often results in reduced or limited movement, which can lead to stiff and irritable joints. A physiotherapist can help the patient regain mobility by manipulating the joints manually, which will restore functionality and movement in the affected area.

In some cases, the physiotherapist will recommend soft tissue treatments such as myofascial release and stretching, trigger point therapy, and massage therapy to reduce pain and improve the movement. These treatments can help desensitize the area where the pain is localized as well as loosen the muscles.

Contact Our Experienced Physiotherapists In the Greater Toronto Area!

Sports & Exercise Medicine Institute offers the services of experienced physiotherapists and sport medicine experts in The Greater Toronto Area. 

The leading sports medicine and physiotherapy clinic provides various non-surgical treatment options and expert diagnoses along with innovative methods for several musculoskeletal conditions including chronic pain and sports injuries.

Our additional services include acupuncture, sports physiotherapy, custom knee braces, foot pain podiatry, shockwave therapy, massage therapy, and neck and shoulder pain treatments.

Contact us now to schedule an appointment!