Physical Therapy Exercises For Myofascial Pain
Myofascial pain is a widespread condition that causes muscle stiffness and tightness. One effective treatment option for myofascial pain involves physical therapy exercises; these can help reduce the discomfort associated with this condition.
Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is a health profession that strives to increase movement and mobility for those with physical impairments. PTs employ hands-on treatment methods and educate patients on specific exercises designed to help them move more efficiently.
Physical therapists (PTs) treat a wide variety of conditions, but myofascial pain is one of the most commonly seen reasons for seeking out help. Once your doctor has provided you with a referral to see a PT, take some time to ask any questions about treatment plan details and what can be expected during each appointment. You might find that your PT can answer all your queries or provide some simple at-home exercises before your next scheduled visit.
If you are suffering from myofascial pain, it is essential to see a professional as soon as possible. A therapist can examine you and identify the source of your discomfort and craft an effective treatment plan to alleviate it.
The therapist can offer manual treatments such as massage and manipulation to relieve tension that could be contributing to your symptoms. They may also suggest a trigger-point injection or anti-inflammatories to reduce pain and inflammation.
Trigger points can be caused by trauma, repetitive motion injury, improper posture or diseases like arthritis. They are very tender to touch and often refer pain elsewhere on the body.
Myofascial pain can affect any muscle in the body, but is most frequently found around the back, neck, and shoulder area.
Myofascial pain usually responds well to manual techniques and medications. If the discomfort persists after treatment, there could be other underlying issues that need addressing.
A therapist may be able to suggest lifestyle modifications that can help prevent myofascial pain from occurring in the first place. These could include decreasing stress, increasing exercise and improving posture while sitting or working.
Another treatment option is kinesiotaping, a form of taping that can reduce pain and improve range of motion. Depending on your health insurance provider, you may be able to get a therapist to tape the affected area at no cost or be required to pay out-of-pocket for this procedure.
Dry needling, which involves inserting a needle into muscles to release trigger points, has become an effective treatment option for myofascial pain. A systematic review published by Charles et al. revealed statistical evidence that dry needling can effectively reduce myofascial pain and trigger points.
Other PT exercises for myofascial pain include foam rolling and self-myofascial release (SMFR). Foam rolling involves massaging an area with a firm object to increase flexibility there, as well as stretching tissue that covers muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
