Chronic pain is widespread – with over 100 million sufferers in the U.S. alone – so if you struggle with chronic pain, you are not alone. Standard pain medications have so many undesirable qualities that you cannot rely entirely on them to treat your pain, leaving you wondering if you are just stuck with it. Fortunately, there is another potential solution. Physical therapy is effective in reducing or even eliminating chronic pain. With the right treatment plan, you may significantly reduce your discomfort.
Increasing your physical strength
Depending on your condition, your physical therapist may teach you some exercises designed to strengthen your muscles and soft tissues. It may seem strange that getting stronger is recommended by medical science when you are in pain – since exercising may be painful in and of itself, especially at first. But there are good reasons to try and make you stronger.
Often, the cause of chronic pain is pressure on nerves in your joints, whether your spine, knees, hips, elbows, or some other joint. When you make the muscles around those joints more robust, they are better at providing support – which can take some pressure off your nerves.
Improving your flexibility
Improving your flexibility can also help reduce your pain. When you are suffering from an injury, it is common for your body to compensate in some way to avoid the pain – which can lead to unhealthy movement patterns that you may not even be aware of. How your body compensates may help right after the injury, but over time it will lead to wear and tear on other parts of your body. If you feel tight or locked up in one way or another, you are probably experiencing this type of situation.
Physical therapy can gently relax your body to return to moving healthily. Your physical therapist will work with you to ease the tension so that your body can move correctly and increase the strength of the muscles surrounding the joint to maintain the correct movement patterns.
Teaching you how to move safely
Most people are unaware of how they move in their day-to-day activities. You could be bending over, lifting, walking, running, sitting, or moving, contributing to your chronic pain. Learning how to improve the issues with your movements can significantly decrease the pain you experience.
Your first session with your physical therapist will include an exam where they watch how you perform different activities – like walking – to identify any possible problems. Once they know where things are going wrong, they can teach you how to improve so that you do not unknowingly increase your chronic pain.
Electrical, Hot and Cold Therapies
Physical therapists have various tools to treat your immediate pain as well. They can use things like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)and hot and cold therapies to help reduce inflammation and ease some of your pain. These therapies can also help improve your body’s ability to heal.
Get Help with Chronic Pain
If you are struggling with chronic pain, we want you to know that we are here to help. Our physical therapy team can design an individualized treatment program to help alleviate your pain and improve your life.
This October, we are celebrating National Physical Therapy Month, raising awareness about the many benefits of physical therapy, and showing appreciation to the PTs, PTAs, and students who help us reach our peak.
One way to show appreciation is to share your experience with Peak Performance Physical Therapy. We love to hear from you!
Daniel R Mesko DO
Please meet Dr. Mesko, a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon who completed his residency at the Cleveland Clinic and further pursued his interest in hip and knee adult reconstructive surgery with a fellowship at RUSH University Medical Center. He trained with leading innovators in minimally invasive techniques, outpatient surgery, and complex revision arthroplasty surgery. Dr. Mesko values engaging patients in education and active dialogue. Dr. Mesko collaborates with Peak Performance Physical Therapy in shared decision-making for optimal return to the patient’s lifestyle.
DANIEL R. MESKO, DO IS A LANSING-AREA NATIVE WHO HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING TRAINING:
- Adult Reconstructive Hip and Knee Fellowship, RUSH University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
- Orthopedic Surgery Internship & Residency, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan
- BS – Applied Health Sciences, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois
Nolan Barker – Physical Therapy Technician
Dewitt Clinic
Nolan is from Belding, MI. He graduated from Michigan State University in December with a Bachelor of Science in physiology. Nolan has plans to continue his education in medical school to be an osteopathic doctor. He has always been interested in the medical field and has enjoyed getting experience working as a PT technician and seeing everything a physical therapist can do. Nolan enjoys playing card games, reading, rollerblading, rock climbing, and doing anything outside in his free time.
We know how awesome Nolan is. Now we want to hear from you. Please take a moment and share your experience with Nolan and the Dewitt Clinic.
Chronic pain is a prevalent condition and something that we see in our clinic often, so if you are struggling with chronic pain, you are not alone. We have patients who have tried just about every medication out there to manage their pain, which is just not working for them. Fortunately, physical therapy has proven effective in treating and even eliminating chronic pain! With the right treatment plan, you may reduce your discomfort significantly. This is why you shouldn’t hesitate to contact our office today if you or one of your loved ones suffers from chronic pain. We are here to help and want to see you feeling better.
About our revolutionary treatment approach
We believe every single person deserves to live life to the fullest without worrying about neck pain, movement restrictions, or fear and concern about whether this will get worse. Our treatment approach is customized specifically for the wants and needs of you as an individual. 88-93% of the population sees results in as little as one week, if not sooner. Our team of experts will guide you through a HIGHLY detailed examination that considers all elements of your health and wellness.
Why should you choose telehealth?
Accessibility
Telehealth can help you stay connected from anywhere, even in your office. Telehealth may also increase your ability to connect with a PT who is experienced in treating people with your condition.
Home Safety
Still, have concerns about entering public spaces? Telehealth can be a safe alternative to outpatient health care settings. You can have a contact-free visit and still learn strategies to eliminate pain without leaving your home.
Transportation
A telehealth appointment reduces the burden of commuting to and from appointments. Telehealth works well for parents with a child at home, caregivers concerned about the physical demands of transporting their loved one to and from appointments, and those who don’t have easy access to transportation.
Success Rates
Patients participating in telehealth physical therapy are more likely to stick to their home exercise programs. Your PT can provide you with a safe and effective home exercise program to do at home based on your specific needs and goals.
Excellent Care
You will work one-on-one with your PT during a private telehealth visit without distractions. You also can involve family members or caregivers in your appointment if you like.
See how it’s done, click the link below!
Peak Performance Physical Therapy | Patient Portal (medbridgego.com)
Prone Press Up
Setup
- Begin lying on your stomach, with your hands by your shoulders resting flat on the ground.
Movement
- Push against the floor with your hands, bending your back upward.
Tip
- Make sure to keep your hips in contact with the floor and maintain a gentle chin tuck throughout the exercise.
Easy Apple Cider
It’s that time of the year for delicious healthy apple cider! Mix up your favorite apple cider, cinnamon sticks, brown sugar, and other spices. Enjoy this drink heated up or even cold if you like, and sit back, relax and enjoy the fall days ahead.
APPLE CIDER RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
– 6 Granny Smith Apples
– 6 Red Delicious Apples
– 1 Valencia Orange
– 1 Cup Brown Sugar
– 1 Whole Nutmeg, finely chopped
– 4 Whole Cinnamon Sticks, halved
– 1 Tbs Cloves
DIRECTIONS
– Wash apples and oranges and cut them into quarters.
– Add to a large stockpot along with the brown sugar.
– Lay your nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves into a cheesecloth, and tie it into a suitcase.
– Fill your stockpot with enough water to cover the fruit, and add your spice satchel.
– Bring water to a boil, and let your mixture boil for at least one hour to soften the fruit.
– Mash your softened fruit, reduce heat, and simmer for two additional hours.
– Allow the pot to cool completely, and remove your spice satchel.
– Line a large bowl with a doubled cheesecloth, and add the contents of the stockpot.
– Twist and squeeze the cheesecloth to get as much juice as you can.
– Drink cool or reheat.
Calling All Small Businesses
We are looking for small businesses to partner with and promote in our monthly newsletter and social media!
If you or someone you know owns a small business and might be interested in partnering with us, please send email us at Info@peakperformanceompt.com
