Physical Therapy is a Viable Alternative to Using Opioids
January 24, 2024
The National Institute of Health defines chronic pain as;
A pain that persists for more than 3-6 months even with medication and treatment.{" "} 1
Chronic pain is more common in elder individuals. It may result due to several health-related conditions such as
Each patient responds to pain differently. However, some common
effects include depression, anxiety, and difficulty with sleep which
leads to limitations in daily activities. If left untreated then it
can severely disrupt a person’s quality of life. Even worse, some
sufferers with chronic pain may turn to prescription medication, which
adds to the rise in opioid and other drug usage.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that
50.2 million US adults experience chronic pain. Another publication
found that 22.1% of these US adults used prescription opioids while
suffering from chronic pain.
2
The increasing morbidity and mortality due to the current opioid
epidemic made medical professionals look towards non-pharmacological
therapies like physical therapy. Understanding chronic pain, its
involvement in the opioid crisis, and why physical therapy can be the
best alternative treatment is crucial for both patients and healthcare
professionals.
The HHS 5-Point Strategy makes clear that addressing chronic pain
necessitates a thorough strategy that is patient-centered. Physical
therapy is a more efficient form of care than just suppressing pain
receptors since it treats the underlying problem. The following ways
that physical therapy assists: Physical manual manipulation: Physical
therapy aims to increase the mobility and flexibility of joints, soft
tissues, and nerves. When the body is in pain, it responds by
restricting mobility there. By gradually relaxing the afflicted areas,
PT helps in restoring normal bodily mobility.
Given the crisis and the increasing number of deaths associated with
it, it is imperative to steer the medical community away from
prescribing opioids to manage chronic pain. Physical therapy, which
has been proven to address the root cause of pain rather than simply
masking its symptoms, should be more widely embraced as a viable
alternative treatment.
It is the highly recommended approach for chronic pain management,
especially in cancer patients receiving palliative care.
3
Here at Somatic Health, one of our motives is to deal chronic pain
through physical therapy approaches in the fight against the opioid
crisis in addition to advocating for value-driven patient care. On the
other hand, we do our part by providing therapists with innovative
technology such as AI-ROM (range of motion), 3-D motion capture, and
4000+ therapeutic home exercise videos that enable them to assess
their patient’s ranges and evaluate them properly without any
restriction of location.