The Benefits of Physical Therapy in Addiction Treatment
People in the midst of recovery are typically dealing with a variety of issues, so they need different treatments and tools to adequately address their needs. One tool that we offer and have found to be very effective in terms of helping people battling substance abuse is physical therapy.
Table of Contents
Understanding Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is the process of treating an injury or a disease through physical methods, such as exercise or even applying heat. This method of therapy aims to strengthen and tone muscles which reduces pain while improving movement and mobility. Physical therapy is often used as an alternative to surgery or medications. This aspect is particularly helpful for people undergoing substance abuse recovery. During physical therapy sessions, a trained therapist will lead a patient through a series of exercises designed to address specific injuries or health problems.
Safe Pain Management
Substance abuse and addiction can happen for a variety of different reasons. Treating medical conditions, particularly when pain management is a concern, can be a challenge for people working to recover from an addiction. Living with chronic pain is not acceptable, but using prescription medications to treat the pain can carry a very high risk.
Physical therapy provides a drug-free alternative to treating a variety of injuries, conditions, and diseases. Physical therapy may not always be effective, but in many instances, it is a good starting point and can provide results.
The Ability to Focus on Getting Better
Pain is a huge distraction. When an individual is experiencing pain it can be hard to focus on the task at hand and other responsibilities. Pain can act as a barrier to treatment. Inpatient treatment can be taxing, and when a patient is dealing with chronic pain, that serves to complicate matters further. Patients experiencing pain may also be reluctant to seek treatment due to concern overusing prescription drugs. Physical therapy is an effective solution. Stopping the pain and promoting healing in a drug-free manner gives an individual in recovery the power to take control of their life and their health.
Some of the benefits of physical therapy for individuals attending our inpatient program include:
- Increased mobility
- Decreased discomfort and pain
- Improved strength and muscle tone
- Decreased risk of future injury
- A drug-free alternative to pain management
Safe Alternatives
A major benefit of physical therapy is avoiding surgery or possibly speeding up the recovery process. Surgery often involves the use of prescription painkillers both during the procedure and recovery. This can be a potentially risky situation for an individual working on their sobriety, particularly someone who is still new to treatment. Physical therapy can potentially eliminate the need for surgery or help an individual heal much more quickly after surgery. Surgery should not be avoided if it is necessary, but exhausting other treatment options under a doctor’s supervision can be beneficial for individuals in recovery.
Eliminating the Pain
Physical therapy is one of many possible solutions that we use as part of our multifaceted approach to care. Our inpatient program strives to provide complete addiction recovery, and sometimes that means addressing various physical ailments. Physical therapy is often a viable treatment option that provides drug-free results, enabling patients to progress through their treatment while also understanding that it is possible to live a happy, healthy, and pain-free life.
