Physical Therapy and Stress Relief

The past two years have been stressful, to say the least. With a global pandemic, supply chain shortages, staffing issues and everything in between, everyone has had their lives impacted in one way or another. To help combat the rising stress levels, NARA wants to promote the use of physical therapy to lower stress. 

As always, you should consult with your doctor before starting a new exercise routine or regimen. However, if you and your doctor or physical therapist have decided that PT is an appropriate therapy for your stress, there are a few ways you can start relaxing. 

Muscle Relaxation 

Without even noticing, you are using energy to tense up your muscles throughout the day. A PT can help show you different techniques that help you release the tension and relax those muscles. By practicing and repeating these exercises, you’ll condition your body to better handle its stress response in the future. This can help you save energy and prevent tension that can lead to sore muscles and headaches. 

Breathing Techniques 

Breathing patterns ebb and flow in response to everyday triggers. However, when stress comes into play, normal breathing can become impaired. PTs can help by teaching you breathing patterns that stimulate the “rest and digest” aspects of your nervous system as opposed to the “fight or flight” response.  

Reducing Upper Body Tension 

Many people report feeling tension in their neck, shoulders and back. Holding onto this tension can cause long-term pain and potential damage. A PT will not only help you stretch out those tight areas but show you ways to prevent further tension from happening. In fact, most of the exercises needed will be easy to reproduce at home. 

Relieve Jaw and Facial Tension 

Do you ever notice yourself clenching your jaw throughout the day? That intense biting and gnawing of the teeth can cause big issues long term. Manual therapy and muscle relaxation techniques can help significantly improve and even reverse the damage from years of tension. A mouthguard may also be suggested to help minimize harm to the teeth.  

Stress is an inevitable part of life. With the help of physical therapy, we can work to better control our stress levels and the way our bodies respond. For more information regarding physical therapy and rehabilitation, visit the NARA website today.