Therapy for Pain from Muscle Imbalances
Muscle imbalances are muscle tension, length or control problems that create abnormal patterns of movement, resulting in abnormal stresses on joints and other structures. Muscle imbalances can be created by poor posture, faulty body mechanics, or by some type of trauma.
Some imbalances can be obvious, such as a limp that does not go away after the pain from an injury or surgery is gone. Other imbalances are very difficult to see, and may only become apparent during specific testing. The therapy specialists at the Center for Pain Resolution can identify your pain source and work with you to relieve the pain.
Treatments May Include:
Neuromuscular Re-Education Exercises - The therapist assesses and identifies any muscle control deficits using multiple stability tests. The therapist then uses very specific, low intensity exercises to encourage normal muscle control. Once the muscle control normalizes, the patient is progressed to strengthening exercises.
Strengthening Exercises - The therapists assesses the strength of the muscles through testing. The patient is then instructed in exercises for any muscles that are either abnormally weak, or need to be stronger to provide stability to support a weakened joint, disc, or other structure.
Stretching Exercises - The therapist assesses the flexibility of the muscles through testing. The patient is then instructed in exercises to lengthen the short, tight, or contracted muscles that are limiting normal motions or joint mobility.
Who Can Benefit?
Anyone experiencing pain or limitation in movement could have a muscle imbalance. Research suggests that some patients who have a back injury lose the ability to properly control certain muscles, even after their back has healed. This problem impairs their ability to stabilize their joints, making reinjury more likely. This may help explain why 80% of patients who have a back injury serious enough to seek treatment will have at least one or more serious incidents in their lifetime. This may also explain why one study found that almost 40% of patients reported virtually no difference in back pain one year after having surgery.
Individual training and support is provided by licensed occupational and physical therapists that specialize in treatment for pain.
A free, private phone consultation is available by calling the Center for Pain Resolution at 262-780-0707, or 888-780-8778.