People don’t touch a hot stove and go back and touch it again. When it hurts to move after an injury the tendency is to stop moving. This can lead to fear and avoidance of movement which can be detrimental to recovery. We tend to direct our attention to pain and this actually increases our pain and leads to avoidance. When people stop doing the activity that they enjoy they can get depressed and quickly roll into the vicious cycle of chronic pain.
Movement promotes blood flow and helps normalize the tissue. Occasionally the physician recommends non-weightbearing or temporary rest and it is important to follow instructions. However, after the recommended rest period is over it is important to resume activity.
Begin slowly with activities that are meaningful to you. Walk the dog for half a block or stand long enough to prepare a light meal. Set realistic goals for yourself to move towards being able to do the activities that are important to you. It is frightening to move when you hurt so be sure to relax your muscles and your mind before you attempt activity so that you’re not increasing your pain by tensing your muscles. Breathe. A physical or occupational therapist at Saunders Therapy Centers can help you to gauge your activity appropriately, and soon you’ll be moving again!
by Cathy Piela, OTR/L
When you need help for back pain, who do you think of first? A recent study* showed that patients who saw a physical therapy FIRST for back pain experienced significantly lower total costs compared with both the no-PT and PT-later groups, including lower out-of-pocket expenses. PT-first patients had significantly lower rates for emergency room visits, imaging, and opioid prescriptions compared with the other groups.