Services

Pain Treatment

Certified Pain Science Experts at Fremont Therapy Group 

Nearly 20 million Americans suffer from chronic pain that interferes with their daily activities, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC reviewed the National Health Interview Survey and found that 1 in 5 Americans, or about 50 million people, suffer from chronic pain.

Of those, 8%, or about 19.6 million, suffer from pain that interferes with their daily lives and this chronic pain is the primary reason Americans are on disability. 

With our team of physical therapists, we will help you focus on empowering and activity-driven goals that can reduce pain and improve your quality of life.

The CDC’s recommendations point to “high-quality evidence” that treatments provided by physical therapists (PTs) are especially effective at reducing pain and improving function in cases of low back pain, fibromyalgia, and hip and knee osteoarthritis.

At Fremont Therapy Group and Rocky Mountain Sports we have a highly skilled team of therapists who specialize in the treatment of pain.

These strategies begin with Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE). Doctor of Physical Therapy, Justin Willis, recently earned the esteemed Therapeutic Pain Specialist certification (TPS) through Evidence in Motion and International Spine & Pain Institute with Purdue University. TPS is the highest clinical competency of evaluation and treatment of pain that a practitioner can earn.

Justin uses these valuable PNE skills to help patients conquer pain and teach therapeutic strategies to take control of their discomfort. To learn more details about Justin’s PNE approach, click here: https://www.sweetwaternow.com/newly-certified-pain-science-expert-at-fremont-therapy-group/

Why Pain Neuroscience Education?

Pain is an epidemic and a historically misunderstood and mistreated condition. The goal of pain neuroscience education is to reduce unnecessary suffering and educate patients how they can take back control of their body and manage their pain. 

Justin explains, “Once an individual understands why they have pain, it becomes easier to zero in on what is perpetuating their pain. We can use this knowledge to address pain through a holistic approach to improve function and decrease suffering.”

TPS has drastically changed the way I treat patients. My main focus on all patients is now how can I help that person gain control of their life to help make their situation better. Whether I am treating a patient who is experiencing chronic pain or not, I now take more time to educate the patient and to make sure I can answer their questions. This certification has made me more empathetic and helped me to understand how to treat the whole person, not just a body part. It has helped me to slow down and really contemplate how I can help each patient individually. TPS has also given me some new evaluation tools which help me to be even better at evaluating people. 

Additional ways to help with pain

In addition to PNE, we also utilize Graded Motor Imagery, Dry Needling, Cupping, and Aquatic Therapy as tools to help patients move beyond pain. 

At Fremont Therapy Group we are a family of 5 clinics across the state. The benefit of having such highly trained staff and a close knit working relationships between all locations, is that we can all learn from one other. Justin has presented his new pain knowledge to his colleagues and we are empowered to learn from his skills with PNE to help patients regain function. 

Call any of our locations to learn more about how Pain Neuroscience Education and our multiple pain treatment strategies can help you!

DRY NEEDLING

Specially trained physical therapists can use dry needling to treat strained and sore muscle tissue. Fine monofilament needles, so small you could fit 16 of them on the tip of a regular needle, are used to penetrate the skin to reach underlying muscular trigger points (tight muscle bands). The needle helps reduce pain by releasing the tight muscle and increasing blood flow. It also stimulates the brain to release endorphins, which is the body’s “homemade” pain medication, improving symptoms quickly with no side effects!

Jeff Alcorn, PT, DPT, “ Patients report immediate improvement or relief. Dry needling is a great tool, especially when combined with other physical therapy treatments and exercise. It allows for quick
progress, from which to build upon and snowball symptoms in a positive direction”

CUPPING (KNOWN CLINICALLY AS MYOFASCIAL DECOMPRESSION OR MFD)

With Cupping or MFD, decompression is used to release tight muscle tissue and improve blood flow, allowing for temporary pain relief. This approach is particularly useful in treating overuse injuries such as bursitis, tendonitis, and other sources of muscle pain (back, neck, 

elbow, shoulder etc.). It is also beneficial following surgery, to lessen scar tissue and activate muscles that have atrophied.

Cupping involves use of a pump, along with plastic vacuum cups that are placed on the skin. With the cups in place, the PT guides patients through active movements that improve mobility and encourages muscles that are not performing to their full potential.

“Cupping allows me to address the muscle, nerves and surrounding tissue simultaneously. The decompression created by the cups reduces pressure in the painful areas, and allows tissue to separate and move without restriction, ultimately leading to better range of motion, more strength and significantly less pain. “

-Jackie Clark, PT, DPT

AQUATIC THERAPY

When experiencing pain, we become reluctant to do certain things for fear the pain will increase. As we limit those movements, they actually can become more difficult, creating a seemingly endless cycle of restricted mobility and pain. Even a little mobility can help break the cycle. With aquatic therapy, the body is submerged to the chest in warm water, making us feel lighter and more mobile. The warmth of the water directly on the skin works as a pain reliever, while the pressure of the water offers resistance that adds challenge to the exercises.

Nick Hastert, PT, DPT explains, “People with chronic pain often feel they have few options for pain relief. Aquatic therapy can help them take the first step toward managing their pain, so they can focus on the source of the pain. At FTG, we’re fortunate to have the only therapy pool in the county. It is inspiring to see patients enjoy their daily activities with more function and less pain.”

Each of our five locations have heated therapy pools. In a soothing, private, and safe environment, you can reap the benefits of aquatic therapy.

“I was nervous to try the pool at first, but the private changing rooms and patience of my physical therapist quickly made me feel at ease. I feel like I get more done in the pool because the water makes moving my knees more comfortable.”

R.P. FTG Aquatic Therapy Patient

Dry needling, cupping, and aquatic therapy are just a few of the tools in the toolbox our therapists can use to help with pain management. These techniques, in conjunction with a comprehensive physical therapy treatment plan, helps keep pain from coming back. We’re not here just to quickly relieve your pain and send you on your way, we’re here to empower you to move beyond pain, become stronger and more mobile…for good!