Address the root of the pain for lasting relief

We as humans are notorious for working through and around pain, to ensure our daily lives are not affected. However, when a body part is injured, avoiding stress on that area will often result in complications in other parts of the body. For example, it is not uncommon for people experiencing hip pain to develop a limp or a change in walking pattern. Such compensations may offer some relief to the injured area, but oftentimes result in sore or injured muscles in the knee and back areas.

A compensation commonly seen in those who suffer from hip pain is an exaggerated forward lean which can ease the pain in the hips, but can compromise the back. If the hip pain is not addressed early, more serious back issues may result, including osteoarthritis or degenerative disc disease.

"Our backs are overworked as they are, adding the stress of compensating for another injury can cause pain to develop in the lower back along with other areas of the back, ultimately resulting in an increase in the length of time it takes to recover," states Mark Bengtson, owner and physical therapist at Pinnacle Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine. "There is hope, however. Early treatment of pain or injuries can alleviate the stress from those other areas and decrease the overall recovery time."

Physical therapists are specialists in the evaluation of body mechanics. Often times the area that experiences discomfort is not the root of the pain. However, physical therapists are able to work with an individual to identify and treat not only the pain, but also the underlying cause.

"Addressing the underlying cause of a patient's pain allows the patient to feel relief sooner and decreases the likelihood that patient will return to us or their physician with the same condition in the future," concludes Bengtson. "We constantly strive to increase the overall quality of life for our patients."

Pinnacle Physical Therapy has two locations and now offers Aquatic Physical Therapy to serve those who are suffering from pain. The Post Falls Clinic is located at 1590 E. Polston Ave, across from the Northwest Specialty Hospital. The Coeur d'Alene Clinic is located at 3322 Grand Mill Lane off of Seltice Way. For a list of conditions treated and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit www.pinnaclephysicaltherapy.org or call (208)777-4242.