Physical Therapy & Surgery: A Partnership for Success
The unique challenges of long, cold winters in the Northeast can cause many people to delay routine healthcare and surgeries. For many, these surgeries are pushed to spring. In the midst of winter, now is the perfect time to chart your healthcare plan that tackles any outstanding aches and pains, especially if your future includes surgery.
While advancements in surgical procedures have improved the lives of millions of people around the world, surgery is still a massive undertaking and can come with significant side effects, financial burdens, and extensive recovery periods.
In some cases, physical therapy can be used to avoid surgery altogether. However, when surgery is necessary, working with a physical therapist before surgery can prepare your body for the upcoming procedure and contribute to a speedier recovery! And, when you plan ahead, you can also be certain you’ll have the access needed to start rehab after your surgery, so you can stay on-track with your recovery timelines.
Your Health is an Investment
If you’re experiencing pain or considering surgery, we encourage you to talk to your medical provider about trying physical therapy first, or as we like to say “PT First.” Working with a physical therapist at the first sign of pain can reduce inflammation, pain, and reliance on pain medications while restoring function. Do you have surgery scheduled in the coming months? Early physical therapy may improve your symptoms now so you can delay the procedure to later in the calendar year when it may suit your schedule better. Enlisting the help of a physical therapist before surgery can also optimize your post-surgical outcomes!
Your Partner in Health, Always Here to Help
Prehabilitation
Prehabilitation consists of a carefully crafted therapy program that prepares your entire body for surgery. Working with a physical therapist before surgery can be incredibly beneficial.
In the weeks or months before surgery, prehabilitation helps improve your:
- Function: Physical therapists have a rich understanding of surgical interventions and their impacts on the body. In addition to building strength before surgery, your body will benefit post-surgically too.
- Mobility: Your time spent in prehab will help maximize range of motion and flexibility. This is especially important as increased mobility will help you return to your normal function following surgery.
- Education: You’ll learn exercises and other important information about what to expect following your procedure to enhance your recovery.
- Relief: As you prepare your body for surgery, mobility and strengthening exercises can reduce your pain to manageable levels.
- Strength: Improve overall strength, especially in your core and the other areas not undergoing surgery, help you handle the added workload that comes from utilizing mobility devices such as crutches, walkers, slings, or braces following surgery.
With its significant effects on function, mobility, and strength, prehab has been shown to accelerate post-operative recovery and reduce time spent in the hospital after surgery. That’s a win for everyone!
Rehabilitation
When many people think of physical therapy, care after injury or surgery comes to mind. Physical therapy is one of the most effective forms of rehabilitation after surgery. Your physical therapist will work directly with your surgeon to understand the findings and outcome of your operation. Using this information, they’ll work collaboratively with you to establish a program that sets short- and long-term goals to help you return to optimal function and the activities you love.
During rehabilitation, physical therapy can:
- Help ensure your safety at home: While the effects of the surgery still linger, daily activities can be difficult and even dangerous. Although activities like walking, showering, or getting dressed may seem easy, they can be quite daunting when faced with post-surgical limitations. Your physical therapist will teach you the safest ways to accomplish your activities.
- Increase mobility and strength: Tightness and swelling following surgery can be normal. But if these aren’t addressed, they can lead to a lasting limitations on your range of motion. Following the established rehabilitation protocol provided by your surgeon, your physical therapist will help increase your function through strength exercises, movement activities, and manual techniques.
- Ease pain and avoid opioids: Physical therapy is a proven method in reducing inflammation and pain. It’s also an excellent alternative to opioids prescribed after surgery.
- Prevent secondary issues: The side effects of surgery could include secondary issues. Understanding the nuances of your surgery and the typical healing process, your physical therapist will work closely with your surgeon to keep you on track to full recovery
Wherever You Are in Your Journey, Physical Therapy Can Help!
Many conditions require surgery, but if you’re dealing with pain or loss of function, ask your surgeon about physical therapy first. Pain relief through physical therapy is achieved through a variety of treatment techniques. When combined, these techniques:
- Reduce inflammation
- Restore blood flow
- Promote healing through a return to normal function
As a member of your medical team, we can work with you and your physician to help manage your pain and lessen a reliance on pain medications. Opioids used to treat pain aren’t part of a long-term solution to address the problem. In contrast to opioids, physical therapy adopts a very different approach. Instead of merely numbing the pain like opioids do, physical therapy seeks to identify and address the underlying cause of the discomfort. Physical therapists are trained to assess movement patterns, muscle imbalances, postural issues, and other factors that contribute to pain. By targeting these root causes, physical therapy aims to promote healing, restore optimal function, and alleviate pain from its source.
Get Moving to Stay Moving
The ability to move, be active, and maintain independence is crucial to your health and quality of life. For some individuals, pain makes movement challenging. In fact, the number one reason people seek healthcare is due to pain! Wherever you are in your healthcare journey, the MVPT Physical Therapy team will provide hands-on care and patient education to help you overcome pain, prepare you for what’s to come, and gain the freedom to live a full and motion-filled life. Call any MVPT Physical Therapy location to schedule an appointment or click the button below to submit an appointment request form.
Have Chronic Pain? Movement Matters
The National Spine & Pain Center describes chronic pain as “pain that outlasts what is considered a normal time course for healing.” More specifically, pain is considered “chronic” when symptoms persist beyond three to six months. While “acute” pain is the body’s initial response to an injury with symptoms that decline as the body heals, chronic pain follows a very different pattern. Much like that battery-powered bunny, pain keeps going and going, and can get worse over time if not treated accordingly.
Three of the most commonly reported chronic pain conditions in the United States are:
Understanding Chronic vs. Acute Pain
- Acute Pain: This type of pain is temporary and usually resolves on its own within hours, days, or weeks. For instance, if you sprain your wrist and wear a brace during recovery, the discomfort you experience falls into the category of acute pain.
- Chronic Pain: In contrast, chronic pain persists for three to six months or longer, even when you’ve taken steps to alleviate it. Chronic pain is a common reason people seek medical care, as it can severely impact daily life by limiting mobility, creating a reliance on medication, and contributing to anxiety or depression. Fortunately, physical therapy can be an effective solution for managing and reducing chronic pain.
Common Causes of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain often originates in the musculoskeletal system, which includes muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissues. It can manifest as back pain, joint discomfort, nerve issues, or even recurring headaches. Below are some of the primary causes of chronic pain and how physical therapy can help:
- Overuse Injuries: Repetitive motions in daily life—whether from standing, walking, working, or exercising—can lead to overuse injuries. Improper techniques or movements place strain on joints and muscles, resulting in damage and persistent discomfort. Physical therapy can teach proper body mechanics and movement strategies to prevent and manage overuse injuries.
- Accidents: Injuries from car crashes, workplace incidents, or even household mishaps can lead to lasting pain. Research shows that nearly 21% of individuals involved in motor vehicle accidents experience chronic pain that doesn’t resolve without treatment. With the right physical therapy plan, accident-related pain can be significantly reduced or eliminated.
- Post-Surgical Pain: While surgeries are sometimes necessary to correct structural issues, recovery can be accompanied by discomfort and compensatory movement patterns that may cause long-term pain. Post-surgical physical therapy helps improve mobility, accelerate healing, and prevent chronic pain from developing as a result of improper movement.
- Disease-Related Pain: Certain conditions, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, neuropathy from diabetes, and multiple sclerosis, can cause ongoing pain. Physical therapy offers targeted treatments to address the symptoms of these diseases, improving overall function and reducing discomfort.
Physical therapy provides a non-invasive, effective approach to addressing both acute and chronic pain. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, surgery, or managing a long-term condition, physical therapy can help you regain control, restore mobility, and enhance your quality of life.
Turn to Physical Therapy for Chronic Pain Relief
No two individuals experience pain in exactly the same way. Chronic pain is complex, often stemming from various underlying causes, and it can evolve over time. Our experienced physical therapists take a personalized approach, helping you understand the root of your pain and how it has changed.
When chronic pain limits movement, it can trigger a cycle of inactivity that leads to further physical challenges. Muscles may weaken and shrink (a process known as atrophy), and joints can become stiff and difficult to move. Over time, these changes can make even small movements feel overwhelming, reinforcing the cycle of discomfort and inactivity.
Physical therapy plays a crucial role in breaking this cycle. By combining targeted exercises with expert guidance, physical therapy helps improve strength, mobility, and overall function without relying solely on medication. Your care plan may include:
- Education about Your Condition: Empowering you with knowledge about your condition, so you feel more confident managing your symptoms.
- Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques to reduce stiffness, improve mobility, and promote healing.
- Postural Awareness: Guidance on improving posture to reduce unnecessary strain on muscles and joints.
- Body Mechanics & Functional Training: Teaching safe and effective ways to move during daily activities to prevent flare-ups or reinjury.
- Strengthening and Flexibility Exercises: Customized movements to rebuild muscle strength, enhance flexibility, and support pain-free motion.
Our goal is to help you regain control, improve your quality of life, and reintroduce the activities you love, one step at a time.
Physical Therapy: An Effective, Medication-Free Solution
Physical therapy is a proven and trusted approach to pain management that stands apart from medication-based solutions. By identifying and targeting the underlying causes of symptoms and focusing on the body’s ability to heal itself, physical therapy empowers individuals to gain control over their pain and promotes healing.
Physical therapy can help reduce pain, improve movement and health, and reduce opioid usage. Here’s how:
Pain Reduction
Physical therapy offers various techniques to address pain directly. Manual therapy, including joint mobilization, can help reduce pain and restore proper movement patterns. Therapeutic exercises, tailored to the individual’s specific needs, strengthen muscles and increase flexibility, which can alleviate chronic pain over time. Additionally, modalities like trigger point therapy, dry needling, and electrical stimulation (‘E-stim’) can temporarily relieve pain and inflammation, reducing the need for pain medications.
Improved Movement and Function
Pain often restricts movement and limits daily activities. Physical therapy focuses on restoring optimal movement and function through targeted exercises and interventions. Therapists utilize specialized techniques, such as stretching, strengthening exercises, and balance training, to help individuals regain strength, mobility, and coordination. By addressing movement impairments, physical therapy enables individuals to resume their daily routines and activities, promoting a healthier and more active lifestyle and further reducing the need for prescription medications to do so.
Education and Empowerment
One of the most significant aspects of physical therapy is patient education. Physical therapists provide valuable knowledge about the body, pain management strategies, and self-care techniques. This highly personalized education empowers individuals to take an active role in their own recovery and make informed decisions about their health. By understanding the mechanisms behind their pain and learning how to manage it effectively, patients can avoid unnecessary reliance on opioids and use their newfound knowledge to promote long-term well-being.
Holistic Approach
Physical therapy takes a comprehensive approach to healing, focusing on the physical and mental aspects of health and well-being. Physical therapy aims to improve the patient’s overall quality of life by addressing the entire person rather than just their symptoms. PTs work closely with patients, considering their unique circumstances and goals, to develop a personalized treatment plan. This comprehensive approach ensures that patients receive the individualized care they need to achieve long-lasting pain relief and improved health.
Embrace Physical Therapy for Healing and Well-Being
Long-term use of OTC and prescription pain medications can have devastating effects, leaving individuals unable to break the cycle of pain. However, there is hope. Physical therapy offers a medication-free and holistic approach to pain management. By reducing pain, improving movement and function, and empowering patients through education, physical therapy is a compelling alternative to prescription pain medications.
If you are suffering in pain, it’s time to take control of your healthcare. Talk to your medical provider about the benefits of physical therapy to treat your pain. Working together, we can improve your health and well-being and build healthier communities along the way.
Call any MVPT Physical Therapy location to schedule an appointment or click the button below to submit an appointment request form.
Exercises of the Month: Embracing Improved Posture and Neck Pain Relief
In our fast-paced, technology-driven world, it’s easy to find ourselves hunched over screens for hours on end, leading to discomfort, tension, and a host of health challenges. Not only can neck pain affect our physical well-being, but it can also impact our mood, productivity, and overall quality of life. This month’s exercises focus on relieving neck pain and addressing poor posture.
Understanding that neck pain often stems from a variety of factors—be it poor ergonomics, muscle imbalances, or stress—is crucial. This is where physical therapy plays a pivotal role. Our trained professionals can help identify the root cause of your pain, providing hands-on care and tailored exercises and stretches to alleviate discomfort and restore function. By addressing these underlying issues, we empower you to take charge of your health.
This month, Eric B., PT, DPT, AT, MA, our Clinic Manager and Physical Therapist at Bay State Physical Therapy – North Providence, has curated a selection of exercises and stretches aimed at strengthening and stretching the muscles that support your neck. These exercises are designed to help you achieve better alignment and promote ease of movement.
Don’t let neck pain hold you back! Incorporating these exercises into your routine can pave the way for lasting change and rediscover the joy of movement. Let’s take this step together, building resilience and well-being, one stretch at a time. Your body will thank you!
About Eric
Eric joined Bay State Physical Therapy – North Providence after three years with the New England Revolution organization as the Director of Sports Medicine & Head Athletic Trainer and later as the Director of Clinical Education at a PT clinic in Attleboro, MA. Eric has advanced certification as a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy and has extensive experience treating injuries in athletes and non-athletes. Eric earned a master’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in Exercise & Sports Science and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Belmont University.
Eric was previously the Head Athletic Trainer and Director of Performing Arts Medicine at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, where he worked with the varsity athletes, the Department of Theatre & Dance, the School of Music, and the local amusement park. Eric is a published author and has completed lectures locally and internationally across multiple topics.
CHIN TUCK
Great for neck pain and posture
- Stand in a relaxed position
- Keeping your nose parallel and push your chin backward, giving yourself a double chin
- You should feel this in the back of your neck
- Hold your 2 seconds. Complete 20 repetitions.
UPPER TRAPEZIUS STRETCH
Great for neck pain and tension
- Stand in a relaxed position
- Gently pull your head to the side so your ear gets closer to your shoulder
- You should feel this on the side of your neck
- Hold for 20-30 seconds. Complete three repetitions.
CHEST STRETCH
Great for posture and tension
- Stand next to a door frame with your shoulder at 90 degrees
- Gently lean forward
- You should feel a stretch in your chest
- Hold for 20-30 seconds. Complete three repetitions.
SCAPULA STRENGTH
Great for posture and strength
- Stand against a wall with an exercise band in your hands
- Squeezing your shoulder blades together, extend your arms straight out to the side
- You should feel this between your shoulder blades
- Hold for 5 seconds. Complete 20 repetitions.
SCAPULA & SHOULDER STRENGTH
Great for posture and strength
- Stand against a wall with an exercise band in your hands. Elbows bent to 90 degrees
- Keeping your elbows against your body, move your hands away from your body and squeeze your shoulder blades together.
- You should feel this in your shoulder and between your shoulder blades
- Hold for 5 seconds. Complete 20 repetitions.
Take Control of Neck Pain and Reclaim Your Active Life
Neck pain is more than just a nuisance—it can disrupt your daily life, making it difficult to drive, sleep, work, and care for your family. Yet, despite how common neck pain is, many people live with discomfort far longer than necessary. In fact, research shows that 30% of Americans experience neck pain each year, and for nearly half of them, the pain becomes chronic or returns frequently.
The good news? You don’t have to endure neck pain or let it limit your lifestyle. Physical therapy offers a safe, effective path to relief that targets the root cause of your pain and restores your ability to move and live well.
What Causes Neck Pain?
Neck pain can arise from a variety of issues. Common causes include:
- Muscle strain: Often caused by poor posture, such as extended periods of looking at screens.
- Cervical stenosis: Narrowing of the spaces in the spine, which can place pressure on nerves.
- Whiplash: A sudden movement of the neck, often caused by car accidents.
- Cervical radiculopathy: A pinched nerve in the neck, which may cause pain, tingling, or numbness in the arms.
- Cervicogenic headaches: Headaches caused by neck dysfunction.
While some neck pain may be mild and short-lived, it can also become severe or chronic. If you notice symptoms like numbness, stiffness, or headaches that persist, it’s time to take action.
Why Ignoring Neck Pain Can Make Things Worse
When neck pain is left untreated, it can lead to:
- Chronic discomfort: Pain that becomes harder to treat over time.
- Decreased mobility: Stiffness and reduced range of motion.
- Dependency on medications: Increased reliance on over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers.
- Increased injury risk: Weak muscles and poor posture can make you more vulnerable to further injuries.
Waiting for the pain to “go away on its own” may seem easier in the short term, but it can prolong your discomfort and limit your ability to enjoy life.
How Physical Therapy Can Help Your Neck Pain
Physical therapy is a powerful solution for neck pain because it addresses the cause of your discomfort, not just the symptoms. Here’s how a personalized treatment plan can help:
1. Relieve Pain Naturally
A physical therapist uses techniques like manual therapy, including cupping, dry needling, and joint mobilization, to reduce muscle tension and improve movement. These methods provide relief without relying on pain medication.
2. Improve Strength and Flexibility
A key part of your plan will include targeted exercises to strengthen the muscles that support your neck and increase your range of motion. This helps prevent future pain and injury.
3. Restore Function and Prevent Recurrence
Physical therapists teach strategies for improving posture and body mechanics. Whether it’s adjusting how you sit at your desk or sleep at night, these small changes make a big difference.
4. Customized Care for Lasting Results
Every treatment plan is unique. Your physical therapist will work with you to set personal goals—whether that’s playing with your kids, getting back to your morning workouts, or simply feeling comfortable while driving.
What to Expect at Your First Physical Therapy Visit
If you’ve never seen a physical therapist before, here’s what you can look forward to:
- Comprehensive Evaluation: Your therapist will assess your neck pain, movement patterns, and overall function. They’ll take the time to understand your medical history, past injuries, and your specific goals—whether it’s running, playing with your kids, or simply being pain-free.
- Collaborative and Caring Approach: Our highly qualified and compassionate staff are committed to putting you at the center of your care. Your concerns and preferences will be listened to, and you’ll have an active voice in shaping your recovery plan.
- Personalized Plan: A custom treatment program will be created based on your unique needs, ensuring that it supports your goals and fits your lifestyle.
- Education and Empowerment: Beyond your sessions, you’ll receive tips on posture, daily movements, and at-home exercises to support your progress. Our goal is to equip you with the tools you need to stay healthy and prevent future neck pain flare-ups.
Your first visit sets the foundation for long-term success. You’ll leave with confidence, knowing that your care team is dedicated to helping you feel your best.
Take Control of Your Neck Pain with Physical Therapy
Don’t let neck pain hold you back from the activities you love. With physical therapy, you can take charge of your recovery and improve your quality of life. Schedule your evaluation at MVPT Physical Therapy today and discover how our expert care can help you feel and move better.
Your path to pain relief starts now!
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