Dealing with chronic pain can change the way a person lives their life. Pain gets in the way of quality sleep, our ability to perform our jobs, take care of our children, and do the things we love. The good news? Our occupational and hand therapists at Hand In Hand Rehabilitation can help treat various conditions that may be to blame if you are not feeling your best! Our innovative care strategies at Hand In Hand Rehabilitation will help you find quick relief.
Do you struggle every day with annoying aches and pains? Do you require immediate relief so that you can resume your daily activities? If this is the case, you may benefit from the five tips we’ve listed below to help our patients increase their stamina levels and decrease their chronic discomfort.
Decrease your pain and get back to enjoying life
Have you ever wondered if there are sure-fire ways to change your life and improve your well-being? There certainly are! Below are five ways you can make minor improvements to your everyday life. These tiny changes could make a world of difference in the way you feel and the things you’re able to do.
1. Stay hydrated.
Did you know that for each pound of your body weight, you should drink half an ounce to one ounce of water every day? In doing this, you may avoid dehydration and other unpleasant symptoms like headaches, muscle cramps, and exhaustion.
The healthiest option is usually water, so keep some available as you go about your day. You’ll find that being hydrated is good for your health, as well as for reducing discomfort and increasing energy. It can also help you control your appetite, which could assist you to avoid gaining weight!
2. Improve your posture.
Standing up straight and sitting up straight can make a tremendous difference in how you feel. It’s a good start to stand and sit with shoulders back, chest out, and your spine erect (rather than slumping over).
Your occupational therapist can create a treatment plan that focuses on improving your posture to maintain in the long run. They can also help you develop posture habits that reduce discomfort and pressure, giving you more energy to go through the day.
3. Improve your ergonomics at your workplace.
Work is one place many of our patients find themselves sustaining injuries! If you are experiencing pain symptoms in your hands or upper extremities, such as carpal tunnel (from typing, drawing, writing, or using a mouse constantly), a hand therapist at Hand In Hand Rehabilitation could help you find relief.
When it comes to pain and energy levels, how you sit can make a major impact. Choosing a workstation that is more ergonomically constructed can make a significant impact in how your body feels at the end of the day! Your occupational therapist may also suggest some modest changes to your work environment that might help you reduce pain and improve your sitting posture.
4. Breathwork.
It is critical to take breaks while exercising and concentrate on your breathing. Focused breathing can help ease pain and may even provide you with the extra energy boost you require to get through the day. Take a few minutes every few hours to pause, close your eyes, and breathe deeply.
Take a deep breath in through your nose, filling your lungs as much as possible. Then, exhale through your mouth, keeping your lips slightly pursed to push the air out. For a few minutes, focus just on your breathing, and you’ll be shocked at how much of a difference it can make.
5. Get up and move!
Perhaps the most important thing you can do every day is get enough physical activity in. Get up and move!
If you are in pain, it may seem better to remain sedentary until it goes away; however, exercising can actually help relieve your symptoms much quicker.
Moving is an integral part of any treatment program, as it is essential to relieving painful symptoms and improving your overall function. By getting up and moving around every hour or so, even if you just take a simple walk around the room or around your office, you can help decrease your pain and boost your energy levels.
Give occupational therapy a try
An occupational therapist’s purpose is to assist you in regaining function and independence that you may have lost or are in danger of losing due to an injury or pain condition.
They can assist you in doing your daily duties more efficiently. Let’s imagine you have a condition that makes it difficult for you to reach high up on your kitchen shelves. An occupational therapist is trained to find new, safe ways to assist you in doing everyday tasks without jeopardizing your comfort, privacy, or independence!
An occupational therapy plan is comprehensive. It includes an individual evaluation to determine your goals, customized intervention activities to improve daily tasks and activities for you, and an outcome evaluation to determine whether goals were met and to make changes to the plan or lengthen your treatment time.
Contact us today for an appointment
In a personalized treatment plan, you’ll discover pain-relieving techniques that can also help you feel more energized. Our highly educated occupational and hand therapists have treated a wide range of disorders. They can give you the resources you need to relieve your pain and prevent it from happening again.
Occupational and hand therapy are great ways to feel your best and recover from pesky aches and pains. Use the tips above to supplement your individualized treatment plan in order to achieve optimal success. For more assistance, contact us today and find out more information about decreasing your pain and increasing your energy!
