Why is a Rehab Approach So Important?

Think for a moment about the last time you were in pain that lasted beyond a week or so; pain that affected the activities or duties you performed throughout the day. What steps did you take to remedy this nagging pain? Perhaps you tried a simple over-the-counter medication like Ibuprofen? Maybe you have an at-home modality such as a portable electric-stim machine or heating pad that you prefer? Or perhaps you took things a step further and sought the expertise of a healthcare provider?

Now, let’s jump ahead a bit. Let’s assume that you did seek out a local healthcare provider and you landed in a chiropractor’s office. After explaining the pain you’ve been experiencing, you demonstrate to the chiropractor that you’ve largely been suffering from this discomfort when lifting objects from the floor such as groceries, pets, or children. With the consultation and examination complete, the chiropractor is now ready to move forward with care and outlines a standard management plan consisting of spinal manipulation, a trial of spinal decompression therapy, and a handful of sessions with a fancy new laser unit they recently purchased for the office. While these therapies may have some benefit in relieving your pain levels, they will likely not provide you with long-term results.

Many interventions found within chiropractic practices are geared toward short-term relief rather than long-term success. This occurs through many common therapies such as the aforementioned spinal adjustments and expensive machinery like laser units, shockwave devices, and other modalities. The problem is that these therapies don’t mirror your difficulty when picking objects up from the floor. It is crucial to understand the importance of going through a management plan that is catered to your specific needs and goals, especially as it applies to activities that you struggle with due to the persistent pain. Therefore, short-term pain-relieving therapies are okay to reduce your symptoms for a day or two, but will often not allow you to return to activity because your underlying issue was never solved – merely masked, much like a bandage.

This is why a rehab approach is so important! To truly address the underlying functional deficits that are contributory to your pain condition, you need a specific rehab regimen that not only reduces your pain levels, but aligns with your individualized patient goals (picking up objects from the floor). A patient-specific rehab plan addresses functional issues and focuses on providing you with the necessary methods of correcting any deficits in mobility, stability, or strength concerns that give rise to chronic pain conditions and the lack of ability to perform daily tasks.

Plenty of therapies can reduce your pain levels, but this doesn’t always translate to you being able to return to activity or the goals you’ve outlined for yourself. It may be grueling, annoying, or more time consuming than laying back and getting a few rounds of shockwave therapy or laser treatments, but goal-specific functional rehab approaches are the only avenue of conservative care that will provide you with lasting results.

Mac Buffamonte, D.C.

Doctor of Chiropractic

Owner of PhysioDelta Chiropractic