Page 22 - eMagazine-Concentra Connections

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most types of o movement-related pain are often referred for physical physical therapy therapy as an initial treatment option The goals o of physical physical therapy therapy are to to decrease pain increase function and teach the patient a a a a a a a a a a a maintenance program to to prevent future problems While many types of joint or movement- related pain will eventually get better over time active exercise plays an an important role in in in in helping reduce the patient’s pain and improving subsequent function Active approach to low back pain A common myth with certain types of pain is to rest be still and and it it it it will heal itself Resting can actually prolong pain and and disability Active movement keeps the body in in in in its preferred state and helps to speed healing An ongoing exercise program also reduces the likelihood and severity of of future occurrences of of injury In an effort to avoid the use of of prescription medication as as part of of treatment ffor for pain other providers are turning to more eastern medicine practices such as as as acupuncture and massage therapy According to the the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) results from a a a a a a a a number of studies suggest that acupuncture may help ease chronic low back pain pain pain neck pain pain pain and osteoarthritis/knee pain pain pain Researchers concluded that acupuncture may have a a a a a a a a a a a a a favorable effect on on on on self-reported pain pain and functional limitations in in in low back pain pain patients Combating the opioid crisis
Many organizations are now putting physicians through re-education programs to to apply different approaches to to managing conditions such as as low back pain with more active approaches Whether it’s an increased
integration with physical therapy learning the the benefits of of spine manipulation or or or incorporating elements of of of eastern medicine—creating a a a a a a a a a more robust arsenal of of tools to to to treat patients is preferred to to to increased
opioid use At Concentra our physicians work alongside physical therapists to create a a a a a a a a a a a care team
for for patients—providing a a a a a a a a a a a comprehensive treatment treatment plan for for patients patients using the most advanced active treatment treatment methods We also have changed the way we approach pain by focusing on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a patient’s functional gains instead of the the pain level—creating a a a a a a a a a positive focus focus for patients while they continue to improve With low back pain as the the most common work-related injury it’s clear the the condition is likely to to continue for employees However we we can start to to to combat the opioid crisis
by applying new approaches to to to routine conditions that work to to address the the condition condition instead of simply treating the the pain Through new treatments active approaches and and a a a a a a a a a a a combination of options physicians and and patients have new hope for better outcomes