Whether your physiotherapy appointments are daily or weeks apart, there are some easy ways to help relieve pain and improve comfort for yourself at home. Here are three simple things you can do:

1. Apply Heat to Affected Areas

Moist heat therapy is one of the simplest, safest and effective “self-care” technique for treating injuries, pain or discomfort in muscles and joints. Moist heat can be used to relieve stiffness, improve circulation and bring relief to muscle pain and overall soreness. Heating the affected area, increases the temperature of the tissues and blood vessels beneath the surface of the skin. Blood vessels open up and increase in size, thus promoting improved blood flow and circulation, thus allowing them to aid in delivering more nutrients and oxygen to the damaged area¹.

We often recommend Thermophore® brand products for use in treating pain, muscle spasm or stiffness associated with chronic illnesses and injuries, especially those diagnosed with osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, low back pain, headaches or migraines, degenerative disc disease and many others.

It works best when used safely, as prescribed by a health professional, and when combined with other treatment modalities, like physiotherapy and exercise.

Ask us about ordering a Thermophore® Moist Heat Pack for you.

2. Support the Natural Alignment of Your Neck While You Sleep

Getting enough quality sleep is one of the most important factors in maintaining good health. However, quality sleep depends on more than just the amount of time we lay in bed. If the conditions around our sleep experience aren’t optimal, it can have an effect on the quality of our rest, and as a result, our overall health.

One of the best ways to ensure you get the best sleep is to have a pillow that supports the natural alignment of your neck and upper spine. We recommend the ObusForme® Neck and Neck Plus Cervical Pillows. They come in four ergonomic sleep positions options and have pleated memory foam that gently cradles your head and neck, changing shape as you move to provide responsive support all night long. This can assist in the relief of neck pain, shoulder tension and associated headaches, allowing for a more restful and restorative sleep².

3. Use Pillows to Relieve Strain and Allow Muscles to Relax in Bed

Ever wake up tired and sore for no apparent reason and wonder if you were beaten up while you slept? Strategically placed body pillows can help to relieve some of the strain put on your body when left in specific positions during your sleep

If your sleep is being disrupted because of pain and stiffness associated with a medical disorder, PMS, pregnancy, restless legs syndrome, fibromyalgia and other injuries and illnesses, you may want to consider trying a body pillow. Body pillows come in different shapes and sizes, and using one that supports you in all the right places for your body and condition, can help make going to sleep and staying asleep a reality. Body pillows can help to facilitate better sleeping postures, thereby, decreasing your sleeping dysfunction.

Ask one of our professional therapists to help you choose the right pillow. We work with multiple suppliers and will recommend one suitable for you.

References

1. Thermophore.com
2. ObusForme.com

Photo credit: ObusForme.com

Written by

Propel Physiotherapy
Propel PhysiotherapyIntegrated Healthcare Team
A special thank to our summer intern Laura Sawula from the University of Toronto’s Physical Therapy program for helping us put together this blog post as part of her placement. Laura is on instagram as @lsawula.

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