At Sports and Spine Physiotherapy, our approach to managing chronic pain will incorporate an active rather than passive approach. An active approach empowers a client to understand their condition, utilises supervised exercise as a “training ground” to teach the client how to independently upgrade (or temporarily downgrade) their exercise program and how to implement strategies independently to cope with any setbacks.

Your therapist at Sports and Spine will  provide education to challenge your fear that all pain relates to further injury or harm, a graded increase in exercise and activity, general exercise for global reconditioning and to improve mood levels, goal setting and the development of a range of self management strategies that the client may confidently implement to prevent flare ups in pain or to manage exacerbations in pain. The physiotherapist needs to adopt a coaching role, assisting the client to problem solve, rather than a traditional treatment plan.

Goals of treatment may include a return to suitable work, independence with domestic activities, re-engagement in leisure activities and a reduction and cessation of reliance on ineffective pain medications. It is unlikely to be straightforward or easy and people with chronic pain may experience regular set backs during treatment. Indeed it may take many episodes for the person to be consistently confident that they can effectively self manage. However, as this occurs, the frequency of treatment sessions should reduce.
Physiotherapists have a valuable and significant role in empowering clients to manage their pain effectively in order to re-engage in activities that are meaningful to them.