More than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which is more than cancer, diabetes, and heart disease combined. Globally, it is estimated that 1.5 billion suffer from chronic pain. While many people turn to pain medications to get their symptoms under control
More than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which is more than cancer, diabetes, and heart disease combined. Globally, it is estimated that 1.5 billion suffer from chronic pain. While many people turn to pain medications to get their symptoms under control
More than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which is more than cancer, diabetes, and heart disease combined. Globally, it is estimated that 1.5 billion suffer from chronic pain. While many people turn to pain medications to get their symptoms under control, this isn’t sustainable and can cause more serious damage. Chronic pain is described as any type of pain that lasts for more than six months. It can affect literally any part of the body, but it is more common to experience in the low back, neck, hip, knee, shoulder, and other joint pain. Unfortunately, chronic pain can have a serious impact on your quality of life, preventing you from taking part in normal, day-to-day activities.
This is where alternative forms of therapy come in, such as physical therapy and aquatics therapy. We are in the middle of an important shift in healthcare, shying away from pain medications to manage pain and instead looking for safer, more effective options.
What is Chronic Pain?
As mentioned, chronic pain is pain that lasts more than six months. In most cases, it is persistent and can even cause discomfort for the individual after the tissue has healed. This means that, although the physical symptoms have healed, your body is still telling your brain that something is wrong. This is referred to as a pain cycle, something that many people experience. In the past, it was believed that rest was the answer to recovery. However, we have learned that less movement actually continues to send your brain these messages that your body isn’t healthy. Because of this cycle, treating chronic pain can be quite difficult. We often turn to mediations to make the pain disappear, but this is not a long-lasting solution. To completely free the body of this pain, we must address the root problem and learn how to break the pain cycle.
How Aquatics Therapy Can Help
Aquatics therapy is often associated with senior citizens, but it is a very effective form of treatment for people of all ages and conditions. We recommend aquatics therapy for people suffering from chronic pain, including the following conditions:
- Low back pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Hip pain and discomfort
- Post-surgery
Aquatics therapy works by relying on the three main principles of water: buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, and temperature. All of these properties work to heal and support the body in many different ways. For example, buoyancy decreases our body weight, allowing patients in pain to perform strengthening exercises without putting pressure on the joints. Hydrostatic pressure gives our joints stability, reduces swelling, and adds resistance. The warm temperature of the water in our pools improves blood flow, reduces muscle spasms, and encourages healing.
If you are living in chronic pain, don’t wait another day to take a hold of your health. Give Classic Rehabilitation a call today to learn more about how aquatics therapy can ease your pain and get you back to living your fullest life.
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