Pain and Sport Rehabilitation

What is Pain and Sport Rehabilitation?

When we talk about pain, it is a symptom that the body exhibits in response to pain stimuli. Pain affects both physical and mental well-being, leading to discomfort and potentially impacting the patient's mood. In more severe cases, it can limit our ability to perform daily activities (functional and activity limitations). There are various definitions of pain, but from a physical therapy perspective, we often categorize it as follows: 1. Acute Pain (0-6 weeks), 2. Sub-Acute Pain (6-12 weeks), and 3. Chronic Pain (more than 12 weeks). The nature of the pain varies depending on the injury location, such as Chronic Low Back Pain or Knee Pain. Apart from the injury location, the type of injury also influences the pain, such as ligament or muscle injuries in the shoulder from exercise (sport injuries) or ankle sprains from accidents.

Due to these factors, it is essential to create a personalized rehabilitation plan for patients experiencing pain. The goal is to select the most appropriate physical therapy methods, both short-term and long-term, to alleviate pain and enable patients to return to their daily activities or sports as normally as possible.

Acute Pain and Swelling

Pain during muscle contraction (Muscle strain)

Pain when moving or bearing weight on a joint (Pain with Joint Weight Bearing)

Inability to move the joint due to pain (Joint limitation by Pain)

Physical Therapy for Pain and Sport Rehab

Key Objectives of Physical Therapy

The main goals of physical therapy for this group of patients include assessing pain (Pain Scale) to differentiate pain levels and determine the urgency of pain management.

Evaluating the impact of pain on movement or how it interferes with daily activities to create a treatment plan that is appropriate for each patient.

Selecting the necessary and suitable physical therapy tools for the injury of each patient is a crucial factor. Effective pain management requires collaboration between the physiotherapist, physical therapy equipment, and the patient.

Examples of diseases commonly found include

Physical Therapy for Pain and Sport Rehab

Key Objectives of Physical Therapy

The main goals of physical therapy for this group of patients include assessing pain (Pain Scale) to differentiate pain levels and determine the urgency of pain management.

Evaluating the impact of pain on movement or how it interferes with daily activities to create a treatment plan that is appropriate for each patient.

Physical Therapy Assessment

Management of Physical Therapy for Patients with Pain

Physical therapy management to relieve pain can be provided to all patients. Some may have previously received pain management, while others may not have, such as physical therapy for pain relief in patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery or back surgery. Examples of physical therapy management for different types of pain include:

High Power Laser Therapy

Used to accelerate repair and reduce pain in patients with acute inflammation or post-surgical pain. It can also speed up the healing of infected wounds or pressure ulcers.

Focus and Radial Shock Wave

Uses shock waves to stimulate the repair of chronically inflamed tissues, such as treating chronic heel pain.

Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation (PMS)

Uses electromagnetic waves to inhibit nerve pain, effective in both acute and chronic phases.

Ultrasound Therapy (US)

Increases blood circulation in injured tissues, enhancing tissue repair efficiency and accelerating healing, which helps reduce pain in patients.

Transcranial Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation (TENS)

Uses low-frequency electrical currents to stimulate the release of opioids, providing pain relief and comfort for patients.

Exercise to Promote and Prevent Pain (Sport Training)

Aims to support pain management and prevention through tailored exercises.