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Holistic Approaches to Chronic Pain Management: A Physical Therapy Perspective

by | Feb 25, 2025 | Health Tips

physical therapist discussing treatment for chronic pain
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Chronic pain can be debilitating, affecting every aspect of your life. While traditional pain management often focuses on medication, a holistic approach, especially through physical therapy, offers a more comprehensive and sustainable solution. At PRO Therapy, we believe in treating the whole person, not just the symptoms. This blog post explores how a holistic perspective in physical therapy can help you manage chronic pain effectively.

Understanding Chronic Pain:

Chronic pain is persistent pain that lasts for more than three months. It can stem from various conditions, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, injuries, and nerve damage. Unlike acute pain, which signals an injury and resolves with healing, chronic pain can linger, leading to physical and emotional distress.

The Holistic Approach: More Than Just Exercise:

A holistic approach to pain management considers the interconnectedness of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It recognizes that pain isn’t just a physical sensation; it’s influenced by stress, sleep, nutrition, and lifestyle factors. In physical therapy, this means going beyond targeted exercises and manual therapy.

Key Components of a Holistic Physical Therapy Approach:

  • Comprehensive Assessment:
    • We begin by understanding your unique pain experience, including its history, intensity, and impact on your daily life. We also assess your posture, movement patterns, and overall physical health.
  • Manual Therapy and Exercise:
    • Hands-on techniques like massage, joint mobilization, the Graston Technique, and soft tissue release can alleviate pain and improve mobility. Targeted exercises strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and restore function.
  • Pain Education and Self-Management:
    • We empower you with knowledge about your condition and teach you strategies to manage pain independently. This includes techniques like pacing activities, ergonomic adjustments, and relaxation exercises.
  • Mind-Body Connection:
    • Chronic pain and stress often coexist. We incorporate techniques like mindfulness, breathing exercises, and guided imagery to help you manage stress, reduce muscle tension, and improve pain tolerance.
  • Lifestyle Modifications:
    • We address lifestyle factors that can contribute to pain, such as poor sleep, unhealthy diet, and sedentary behavior. We provide guidance on improving sleep hygiene, adopting a balanced diet, and incorporating regular physical activity.
  • Addressing Emotional Well-being:
    • Chronic pain can lead to depression, anxiety, and social isolation. We recognize the importance of addressing these emotional factors and may collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as psychologists or counselors, to provide comprehensive care.
  • Aquatic Therapy:
    • For many patients, especially those with arthritis or other joint pain, aquatic therapy provides a low impact way to exercise and reduce pain. The buoyancy of water supports the body, allowing for greater range of motion with less discomfort.
  • Ergonomic Assessments:
    • Many chronic pains are caused or exacerbated by poor posture, or bad ergonomic setups at work or home. We can analyze your daily routines and provide advice to improve your posture and work station.

Benefits of a Holistic Approach:

  • Reduced pain intensity and frequency
  • Improved physical function and mobility
  • Enhanced emotional well-being
  • Increased self-efficacy and independence
  • Reduced reliance on medication
  • Improved sleep quality.

At PRO Therapy, we believe that a holistic approach to chronic pain management offers the most effective and sustainable path to recovery. By addressing the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of pain, we help you regain control of your life and achieve lasting relief. If you’re struggling with chronic pain, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with our experienced physical therapists.

Dr. Kevin Spahr
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Read our reviews from other people like you who came to see the physical therapy team – and left much healthier and happier.
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ashley M.
I’ve been dealing with plantar fasciitis for years and I thought there was no going back from the pain I felt all day everyday. Pro therapy has truly been a game-changer. From the very first visit, with Brooke she made me feel heard, supported, and hopeful. She took the time to explain my condition, tailored a treatment plan specifically for me and listen to the feed back from each visit to see what the next best thing was. Pro therapy staff been incredibly encouraging every step of the way.

The care I’ve received has been top-notch — professional, compassionate, and effective. I can already feel a huge difference in my pain levels and mobility. I genuinely look forward to my appointments because of how much relief I’ve gotten in just a handful of visits.

I Highly recommend pro therapy to anyone dealing with plantar fasciitis. They truly care about your recovery and go above and beyond to help you heal.
All in all, I am beyond satisfied with the care I’ve received with pro therapy
Misty L.
Kevin at ProTherapy is excellent! He is able to listen to feedback and discern next steps for meeting clients where they are at on their healing journey. He really cares about his client's wellness. His guidance as been spot on and appreciated! I will recommend ProTherapy to family and friends.
angela martinez D.
I was referred to PRO Therapy by my chiropractor. I was in desperate need of a good PT after very minimal mediocre treatment at another well known clinic. My first visit I knew my experience would be different with PRO Therapy. There was adequate time to share the history following my knee injury and I felt like I was taken seriously. Dr. Spahr formulated a plan that I was comfortable with and we were off. He made it clear that he wanted to see if we could truly heal the knee without another cortisone injection. I love that I felt included in my treatment plan and am always asked if I have questions about what we’re doing. Dr. Spahr is very good at what he does, he’s super knowledgeable for sure! He has a very good and natural ability to meet you where you’re at and moving at a pace that works for your body. My knee issues are resolving at a remarkable pace without another cortisone injection! When I started with PRO Therapy, I thought at the end of it all I would likely need another injection but that’s not the case at all. I would absolutely recommend you give PRO Therapy a try if you’re considering. I’ve referred my husband and can’t wait to see what kind of results he will have. Thanks Dr. Spahr!
Linda S.
I had the pleasure of working with Dr Kalvin,I had tendinitis in my knee and hamstring, after 6wks of P.T my pain level went from a 10 down to a 1. He was absolutely amazing, very informative and patient with me. Thank you so much for taking care of me 💖
Knel L.
Went in for help with my knee as it usually gets tight when I run. We went through a few sessions and honed in on what the problem potentially is. Dr. Kelvyn pointed a few things out that I wouldn't have figured out myself. Since the problem is probably form and/or muscle related it won't be an overnight fix. I get a set of exercises to do each visit that address my areas of weakness. It was good working with Dr. Kelvyn and definitely recommend checking out PRO Therapy
Debbie E.
I had 5 sessions of physical ther6with Dr Kelvin. This was my first experience. I felt listened to & he made every effort helpful my symptoms. I enjoyed the dry needeling experience. I have had some pain rein these 5 sessions and look forward to more progress with the exercises he gave me to do this winter while snowbirds. Clean clinic and friendly staff. Much appreciated. Thank you,
Debra Erickson
Naser A.
Susan I.
I strongly recommend Pro Therapy for anyone seeking physical therapy treatment. I have worked with several of the therapists at Pro Therapy and have been very pleased with all of them and the treatments they prescribed. I had PT for my shoulder, pre and post hip replacement surgery, and most recently I have been working with Dr. Spahr for back pain. He has combined exercise with other treatments such as dry needling and types of massage. My pain lessened and became manageable very quickly. With continued treatments almost all my back pain was gone and I was able to return to physical chores such as gardening.
My goal after hip surgery was to be able to walk 8 miles on uneven surfaces. Pro therapy helped me to achieve that. Besides being very successful therapists, they are very friendly, good listeners, and are easy to work with. I am very happy with all the treatments I have received there, will definitely go back to them if need be, and without a doubt recommend them to anyone in need of physical therapy.
Dylan P.
Kevin helped me alleviate muscular compensation patterns I had developed from an old injury. For years I had endured pain as a byproduct from those compensations and had visited numerous physical therapists/chiropractors to no avail. Kevin was the first PT that I felt was actually listening to what I thought was going on with my body and together we built a working theory on identifying the issues and fixing them. He suggested I pair my physical therapy with chiropractic through north suburban healthcare (same building) and two months later I feel like I can see the light again. My physical therapy exercises are not exacerbating my symptoms like they used to from other PTs, and I finally feel like I am rebuilding a solid foundation to eventually enjoy the active lifestyle I have been missing out on for years. In short, if you feel like you are at the end of your rope, give Pro therapy a shot. I’m glad I did.
Barbara J.
It’s been a step-by-step positive experience. Therapy has helped me learn how to take care of my shoulder surgery. And I have regained strength and range of motion. I didn’t have before surgery.
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