网曝门事件

Is there help for long-term pain? 

Physical therapy can help people live comfortably again. 

Pain that simply won鈥檛 go away can be debilitating. Even the smallest tasks can feel excruciating.  

For many people with chronic (long-term) pain, the problem is years in the making, according to a physical therapist at 网曝门事件 Health Feather River. That鈥檚 why there鈥檚 no quick fix.  

Here, Kehrer answers your questions about how physical therapy (PT) can relieve long-term pain. 

What exactly is chronic pain? 

This pain lasts for more than three months and is often associated with an illness or injury.

Kehrer says most chronic pain problems involve arthritic or degenerative conditions in the neck, knees, shoulders and back. 鈥淎lmost everyone has experienced low back pain in their life,鈥� he says. 

How can PT help my chronic pain? 

鈥淭he human body is amazing at compensating for weakness, such as a simple limp, but there鈥檚 a toll to pay when you limp hundreds of thousands of times,鈥� Kehrer explains. 

People with chronic pain often have range-of-motion loss, muscle imbalances and atrophy 鈥� alongside psychological problems such as fear. PT uses exercises, stretches, skills training and education to alleviate your pain. 

鈥淲ouldn鈥檛 it be nice to work your body enough to feel muscle soreness and fatigue rather than pain?鈥� he asks. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing how much improvement people will make in their day-to-day life with a small change to their condition.鈥� 

What if I鈥檓 in too much pain for PT? 

A physical therapist鈥檚 goal is never to increase your pain, but instead to promote movement and function, Kehrer explains. Discuss your pain with your therapist, who can choose exercises that help but don鈥檛 hurt. 

Kehrer also recommends sharing your hobbies and activities with your physical therapist. They can tailor the treatment to help you reach your goals, whether that鈥檚 playing with your grandkids or running a 10K. 

鈥淲e want you to succeed as much as you do, and if we find things in the clinic you enjoy, you鈥檒l be successful,鈥� he says. 

At-Home Exercises For Chronic Pain 

网曝门事件 Health physical therapist Matthew Kehrer recommends these two exercises to relieve low back pain. To start each one, lie on your back with your knees bent and feet planted on the ground. 

To stretch: Lower trunk rotation 

Do this first thing in the morning in bed. Let your knees fall slowly to the left, then the right, but do not force the stretch through pain. Repeat for two to three minutes. 

To strengthen: Glute bridge 

Drive through your feet and push your hips toward the ceiling. Your knees, hips and shoulders should be in line. Squeeze your glutes, then slowly lower your hips for three sets of 15.