Alternative Therapies to Relieve Muscle Pain and Joint Discomfort: How Physical and Occupational Therapy can Help

With stress, sitting at a computer for lengthy periods, and overzealous workouts or daily chores, our joints and muscles are often susceptible to tightness, shortening, and becoming extremely painful and sore. Instead of relying on pain medications, which are not good for your overall health, there are alternative, natural solutions that physical and occupational therapists offer their patients to help rebalance their bodies and reduce pain and tightness.

We specialize in myofascial release, manual, joint mobilization, and postural correction exercises to prevent muscle shortening and pain.

Myofascial Release
When the muscles are tight and causing pain, there are often “knots” and hardened uncomfortable in areas such as the shoulders, neck and back. Therapists can knead and gently stretch the muscles and fascia to work out these knots and tight areas. Therapists use their elbows, hands, and forearms to smooth out and work the affected muscles. When precise pressure is applied to the areas causing the pain, this technique will help the muscles relax and reduces soreness. It is not a gentle massage. Myofascial release focuses on reducing soft tissue restrictions by relaxing contracted muscles and stimulating blood flow.

Joint Mobilization
Joints connect bones by way of muscles fibers, ligaments, tendons, and within the joint is cartilage and synovial fluid to lubricate the joint and make movements glide smoothly. Joints can become stiff, inflamed impinged and weak. Therapists can use special techniques to help the joint move with applied pressure and careful force.

Postural Correction
Over time, the posture can begin to suffer and not support the body in the necessary way that would alleviate injury, discomfort and muscle shortening. Therapists work with patients and help them implement specific stretching and lengthening exercises into their daily routine to improve the posture and to lengthen the muscles, which will allow for greater flexibility and strength. These can also be performed in the comfort of your own home along with the clinical setting.

Exercises to prevent muscle shortening and pain
Proper stretching and specific exercises can target muscle shortening to lengthen the muscles and to strengthen and improve flexibility as well as stability. Many of these exercises can be performed in the comfort of a patients home as well. Once your therapists teaches you the techniques and monitors your improvement, they will send you home with a list of exercises and stretches that will not only improve your condition, but also help you avoid reinjury.

Myofascial release, joint mobilization, postural correction and exercises can types of therapies can help:
• Improve mobility and range of motion.
• Reduce pain
• Help the tissue and muscles heal
• Improve circulation.
• Release tension
• Reduce anxiety
• Improve overall wellness

Patient Education is critical to alleviate further injury and to promote the most efficacious healing. Coupled with family participation, self-help management to promote and maintain independent function, mobility and communication is critical.

If you often experience pain, stiffness, immobility, or balance issues, being proactive about physical therapy treatments and techniques can help to alleviate or lessen these circumstances.

For patients suffering from pain, the first step to recovery is to receive a proper diagnosis so the cause of the symptoms can be determined. Physical therapists are trained to administer flexibility and strengthening tactics along with body mechanics and awareness techniques to get your body moving and creating a much less painful range-of-motion. With ongoing therapy, most people see remarkable outcomes and lasting results.

Innovative Therapies Group offers massage, physical, occupational and speech therapy. They embrace alternative methods and will help you explore new inventive ways to combat your pain or disorders.

Types of Treatment Available with Physical Therapy
• Assessment and Evaluation Programs
• Difficulty Walking
• Fall Prevention and Balance Retraining
• Fitness and Wellness Programs
• Functional Training
• Gait Training and Balance Programs
• Manual and Massage Therapy
• Neurological and Neurodegenerative Retraining
• Vestibular Rehabilitation

Innovative Therapies Group, Inc.
352-433-0091 | innovativetherapiesgroup.com