October is National Physical Therapy Month. And as medical professionals across the U.S. work together to expound the benefits of physical therapy, the team at Apex Physical Therapy in Madras are joining the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) in highlighting a topic that affects the lives of millions: opioid awareness.
More specifically, says physical therapist Brock Monger, co-owner of Apex Physical Therapy, the goal is to create awareness around the fact that physical therapy is a safe and effective alternative to opioids (i.e., Vicodin and OxyContin) for long-term pain management.
This is according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which in March of 2016 released guidelines urging non-opioid solutions (such as physical therapy) for the management of chronic pain.
“There’s definitely a time and a place for the use of prescription pain medication, but the concerns of opioid use in our country is very real,” said Monger, pointing out that the CDC reports more than 1,000 people are treated in emergency rooms every day for misusing prescription opioids.
Other scary facts about opioids, according to the CDC:
• Opioid misuse, overuse and addiction contributed to the death of nearly 20,000 Americans in 2014.
• 259 million prescriptions for opioid pain medication were written in 2012, enough for every adult in the U.S.
• As many as one in four people who receive prescription opioids long-term for non-cancer pain in primary care settings end up struggling
with addiction.
“It’s truly an epidemic in our country,” Monger said. “But as a physical therapist, I have witnessed how effective collaboration between the patient, the PT, and the patient’s health care provider can result in restoring function while decreasing the need for opioid pain medications. I am confident that as we continue to talk about this serious topic, continued collaboration will provide real options for those suffering from chronic pain.”
A number of studies over the years have pointed to movement, exercise and individualized physical therapy as effective options for treating chronic pain. A report about chronic pain released by the National Institutes of Health in January of 2015, Monger said, specifically mentions physical therapy as a key, non-pharmaceutical option for treating, managing and event ending chronic pain.
“Despite what is commonly done in current clinical practice, there appear to be few data to support the long-term use of opioids for chronic pain management,” states the report titled “The Role of Opioids in the Treatment of Chronic Pain.”
“‘Movement is medicine’ is not a phrase we use lightly in the physical therapy profession,” said Monger. “But the solution isn’t as easy as just suggesting movement and exercise. All chronic pain sufferers are different, and through one-on-one care, we’re able to identify and address the physical as well as some of the mental and emotional factors that stand in the way of safe and effective pain care management.
“Physical therapists can work together with the patients’ referring healthcare providers to help the patients reach their goals.”
From education, strength and flexibility exercises and manual therapy, to posture awareness and body mechanics instruction, physical therapists are licensed and trained to identify the causes of chronic pain, then establish individualized treatment plans for managing- even decreasing pain while maximizing physical function.
Apex Physical Therapy, founded by the husband-and-wife team of Brock and Karin Monger — both physical therapists and certified strength and conditioning specialists — opened its doors in 2007 to care for Madras/Jefferson County families through preventative education and community focused rehabilitation services. The team at Apex Physical Therapy treats orthopedic, sports, auto and work-related injuries; provides post-surgical rehabilitation care; and offers education and rehabilitative programs related to spine disorders, athletic performance and general wellness.
