People are often surprised to learn that a full service physiotherapy clinic can do more for people than rehabilitate an injury. The interconnected disciplines found within a clinic may be employed to eradicate chronic headaches, dizziness, restore sexual function, and much more. Physiotherapy can also help you achieve greater emotional and mental wellness. But one area most don’t understand is physiotherapy’s role in fighting addiction to a variety of substances. There is a indirect but no less impactful relationship between the two. While an addict should never look to physiotherapy as the only solution to recovering from and living with their addiction, they may most certainly benefit from making physiotherapy a regular part of their lives. Below is a breakdown of common addictions that a physiotherapist can help you (or a loved one) win the battle over.
*Disclaimer: If you are struggling with an addiction, physiotherapy on its own is not the cure. Please seek the help of a professional for dedicated treatment and rehabilitation.
3 Addictions Regular Physiotherapy Can Help You (or a loved one) Beat
Physiotherapist for Addiction to Opioids and Other Painkillers
There is a clear correlation between physiotherapy and the opioid epidemic. Addiction to painkillers all starts because a person is prescribed a long regime of prescription painkillers, without first validating that chronic pain can be properly mitigated via physiotherapy. Blame can be placed on certain pharmaceutical companies, governing bodies, and physicians who get kickbacks for writing said prescriptions. Who is not to blame, is the person who becomes addicted by being tossed into the vicious cycle of chemical dependency. We have covered the topic of how physiotherapy can help put an end to opioid and painkiller addiction, so we encourage you to reference these guides below:
Physiotherapist for Addiction to Sleeping Pills
People have trouble sleeping for a variety of reasons. Among the common ones, include chronic pain and/or an inability to find a comfortable resting position due to a musculoskeletal condition. Sufferers may chalk the latter up to restlessness, not realizing that the problem can be entirely treatable via physiotherapy. As an unfortunate alternative, they turn to sleeping pills and similar chemical agents that induce tiredness and subsequent slumber. They may work (often instantly) but they can also create a chemical dependency. But even organic supplements can create reliance. When the latter occurs, your mind (and therefore body) assumes that you won’t be able to sleep when you open the cabinet to find that your supply has run dry. This in itself is form of addiction, Before you turn to a OTC solution (which really isn’t a solution) we encourage you to see a physiotherapist. Here is everything you need to know about the benefits of physiotherapy for sleeping.
Physiotherapist for Addiction to Mood Enhancing Drugs
One of the primary reasons people take drugs is to enhance their mood. It’s especially harmful when the course of action is taken to manage anxiety and stress. Once again we find that both a chemical and emotional dependency is created. While treatment of anxiety and stress (that lead to addiction) must primarily be managed by a professional counsellor, physiotherapy may also play a role in keeping drugs out of the equation. How? View this article on how physiotherapy can help people overcome anxiety.
Are you ready to supplement your plan to remove harmful addiction from your life? Physiotherapy may indeed be a help. If located in the Greater Vancouver BC area, schedule a consultation at our Burnaby clinic today.
*Disclaimer: To reiterate, If you are struggling with an addiction, physiotherapy on its own is not the cure. Please seek the help of a professional for dedicated addiction treatment and rehabilitation.