How to manage Pain in Winters with Physiotherapy?

As temperatures drop in the winter, weather-related health problems start to rise. Especially for patients with bone & joint-related issues. Pain, swelling, stiffness, fatigue, and other common symptoms are harder to control during the winter. Physiotherapy can help patients suffering from arthritis, spondylosis, asthma etc in managing pain in winters and living through winter pain-free.

 

Common conditions that get worsened in winters & How Physiotherapy helps:

 1. Joint pains and stiffened muscles are the most common health problem plaguing the lives of older people in low temperatures. There is a 50 percent spike in the number of senior citizens seeking treatment for bone and joint problems during winter.

 Various modalities like hot & cold therapy, TENS therapy, and therapeutic massages can help in managing joint pain & loosen muscles during winters. Also, your physiotherapist can suggest certain exercises/stretches to keep the pain at bay.

 2. Rheumatoid arthritis is another chronic ailment that concerns people during winters. Its symptoms including pain, swelling, stiffness, fatigue, and other common rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are harder to control during the winter

 Physical therapy is an effective and safe treatment for managing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Under proper counseling individuals with rheumatoid arthritis can safely exercise, improving overall physical fitness, improved sense of wellbeing, and greater ease for activities of daily living

 3. Cervical Spondylosis, a condition affecting bones, discs, and joints of the neck of people have a tough time as temperatures dip in winter.

 

Physiotherapy plays a significant role in the management of cervical Spondylosis. In the active part of physical therapy, a physical therapist teaches various exercises to improve flexibility, strength, core stability, and range of motion.

 4. Asthma attacks are also triggered by cold weather, as winters come with a lot of allergens in the air, being the main causative factor for asthma. People with asthma have sensitive airways, which gets aggravated by cold or damp weather conditions.

 Diaphragmatic breathing exercises and pursing lip breathing techniques are widely used in asthma to prevent breathing abnormalities. Pursed lip breathing prevents the trapping of air into the lungs.

 5 Signs you might need Physiotherapy.

Pains and aches are common, whether it is a twinge after exercising or stiffness in joints caused by an injury, or any specific health condition. While most are transitional or temporary and can be remedied with over the counter painkillers, some type of pain or limited movement might require assessment and treatment by a physiotherapist. A physiotherapy rehabilitation program can help individuals return to their prior level of functioning and recommend lifestyle changes that can improve overall health and wellbeing.

 CB Physiotherapy lists down 5 signs that you need to seek a physiotherapist:

 Lack of balance: If you have trouble keeping your balance and your coordination is off, a physiotherapist can find the underlying issue and treat it. Often, a loss of balance is caused by issues in the structures of the inner ear—known as the vestibular system. A physiotherapist can treat your inner ear issues with vestibular rehabilitation. With physiotherapy, you can restore your balance and coordination and get back to living your life without impedance.

 

·        Chronic pain: If you have pain that lingers for more than a few days and is interfering with your ability to work and do other regular activities, you should see a professional. A physiotherapist will determine the underlying issue and help to relieve your pain, such as with physiotherapy treatment for neck pain. Physiotherapists can work with you to assess the issue and provide a targeted exercise and rehabilitation program that will ease your suffering and get you back to your best.

 

·        Delay in Recovery: As injuries heal, the pain should eventually go away. But sometimes the pain remains and becomes chronic. If you have an injury that hasn’t healed properly, a physiotherapist can assess the problem and create a targeted exercise and rehabilitation program to ease your pain and prevent the injury from recurring. Pain treatments include pain education, manipulation, massage, and exercises that will support the damaged body part.

 

·        Reduced Mobility: Mobility issues include reduced flexibility and feelings of pain or stiffness that get in the way of moving in specific motions, such as bending over, touching your toes, or extending your arms to reach upward. If you feel limited in your mobility and can’t move as easily as you used to, physiotherapy exercises can target the muscles and tissues in the problem areas, relax the muscles and strengthen supporting tissues to help increase your flexibility and mobility.

 

·        Uncontrolled Urination: If you experience sudden, intense urges to urinate or you urinate when you cough, sneeze or laugh, you may have urge incontinence, stress incontinence, or a combination of both. Incontinence is fairly common, especially as we get older. Physiotherapy exercises for incontinence include pelvic floor exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor and reduce incontinence.

 

When to see a Chiropractor? Look for these 7 signs and symptoms.

Pain is our body’s way of seeking attention and telling us that everything is not fine. Types of pain differ, so should the kind of attention given. Home-made solutions can be sufficient in many cases, but sometimes delaying professional attention can lead to worsening of your condition. While most people find it suitable to consult a chiropractor/physiotherapist if neck/back pain is becoming unmanageable. 

 

There are two things wrong with this:

• Don’t wait for the pain to become unmanageable, a chiropractor can help prevent something from going wrong in the first place.
• Other than back/neck pain, Chiropractors are highly skilled to effectively manage and treat other types of pains through spinal adjustment and manipulation.

 

7 Signs to keep in mind on when to see a chiropractor.

 

• Headaches and Migraines: Chronic headaches and migraines are commonly caused by muscle tension in the neck. The tension in the muscles and inflammation of the joints can cause headaches that can be very painful. A chiropractor can manipulate your spine, which can reduce some of the spinal tension, which ultimately would reduce the tension in the head.

 

• Joint Pain or Muscle Pain: People experiencing pain in muscles and joints, should not opt for over the counter medicines as pain could be due to problems with musculoskeletal alignment. A chiropractor is trained to make sure that the body is functioning as optimally as possible by using spinal manipulations to relieve pain in your joints and muscles.

 

• Chronic Back Pain: Experiencing chronic back pain has been one of the most obvious signs that call for a chiropractic visit. The multiple factors that can contribute to back pain include poor ergonomics, repetitive tasks, working habits, and sitting for a long period of time. A chiropractic doctor can provide you with pain relief without the need for invasive surgery or narcotics.

 

• Limited Range of Motion: Experiencing a limited range of motion with your legs, arms, and neck with reduced flexibility indicates the need for consulting a chiropractor. Chiropractic adjustments realign the bones and joints, relieving pain and increasing the body’s range of motion. Having a normal range of motion helps the body to function optimally.

 

• Shooting Pain in Legs: Experiencing sharp, shooting pain in your legs, or tingling and weakness could be a sign that you are suffering from a pinched nerve or slipped disc. A trained chiropractor can diagnose the cause of the pain in your leg and perform a spinal adjustment to alleviate the unwanted pressure that is being placed on the nerve and causing you pain.

 

• Active lifestyle: People with an active lifestyle who spend time working out or playing sports, are often subjected to additional strain and pressure. Engaging in these activities can make the body prone to pinched nerves, slipped discs, or other alignment problems. Consulting a chiropractor on a regular basis helps to keep the body functioning at its prime and to continue the active lifestyle

 

• Recent Injury: One of the signs you need to see a chiropractor is that you have suffered a recent injury and are still having problems with pain. Many individuals experience a limited range of motion in the area of injury, along with stiffness, joint or soft tissue pain. If you are experiencing these symptoms as the result of an injury, it's time to see your nearest chiropractor.

This Article was First Posted On CB Physiotherapy