Often, neck or back pain treatment focuses on a single treatment method. At Thompson Healthcare & Sports Medicine, we do it differently with a multidisciplinary approach. Through methodologies like physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical pain management, and chiropractic care, patients in New Jersey can get comprehensive neck, joint, and back pain treatment. Here, we explore what a multidisciplinary treatment plan may look like for you.
Key Takeaways
- A multidisciplinary care approach involves doctors from multiple specialties coordinating care to provide improved outcomes.
- At Thompson Healthcare & Sports Medicine, a multidisciplinary treatment plan may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical pain management, and chiropractic care.
- By combining different treatment modalities, patients often experience reduced pain and better results.
What Is Multidisciplinary Care?
Multidisciplinary care refers to a collaborative, team-based approach to healthcare. Rather than getting a treatment plan from a single specialist, patients receive a comprehensive plan that is created by multiple healthcare providers working together. At Thompson Healthcare & Sports Medicine, our multidisciplinary care includes physical and occupational therapists, chiropractors, nurse practitioners, and other specialists. They communicate and coordinate to provide a treatment plan that encompasses shared goals across different areas and providers.
How a Treatment Plan May Combine Different Services
When a patient comes to Thompson Healthcare & Sports Medicine for neck, joint, or back pain, they get a tour of our entire facility and learn about all the treatments and services we offer. These options may be combined into a multidisciplinary treatment plan:
Physical Therapy
When dealing with back, neck, or joint pain, physical therapy is often used to facilitate easier movement, improve flexibility, and build strength. The process often includes:
- Muscle-strengthening exercises
- Coordination exercises
- Balance exercises
- Ambulation exercises
Through a one-on-one evaluation with a licensed physical therapist, each patient’s goals for treatment will be determined, whether it’s pain relief, symptom management, or a return to sports or activities.
Occupational Therapy
If chronic pain is impacting a patient’s ability to do daily activities like driving, working, or caring for children, occupational therapy (OT) can help them improve or maintain their abilities. OT often involves:
- Manual therapy and joint mobilization
- Strengthening and flexibility exercises
- Cognitive and sensory integration therapy
- Pain management techniques
These techniques help patients manage their neck, joint, or back pain and get back to their daily routines.
Chiropractic Care
Patients with back or neck pain can benefit from the alignment and pain relief that chiropractic care can provide. Using spinal adjustments, therapeutic exercises, and other methodologies like active release techniques (ART) and Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT), our chiropractors can provide relief from neck and back pain.
Medical Services
When pain is intense and affects everyday activities, medical pain management services like joint injections, trigger point injections, bracing, and more can provide effective relief. We also provide diagnostic medical imaging to confirm diagnoses and non-opioid medication management for pain relief.
These approaches are often combined to provide a patient-centered treatment plan that improves outcomes and overall quality of life.
What Patients Can Expect Over Time
At Thompson Healthcare & Sports Medicine, even if a patient comes in for a single service, our team will still offer other complementary treatment options as part of our multidisciplinary focus. We believe in taking a patient-centered approach to help each patient get the best possible outcome. Combining treatments, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and chiropractic care, often provides better results than a single treatment alone.
Patients with multidisciplinary treatment plans can expect progress tracking and re-evaluation over time to gauge the effectiveness of their plans. If one or more aspects of the plan need adjusting, we will change the plan accordingly to see if adjustments lead to better results.
Find Effective Pain Relief Near You in New Jersey
If you’re dealing with chronic joint, neck, or back pain, help is available. At Thompson Healthcare & Sports Medicine, we take a patient-centered, multidisciplinary approach to treatment, helping to provide improved outcomes for our patients. We have 10 locations near you throughout Ocean and Monmouth counties in New Jersey, helping patients find care close to home. To learn more about our comprehensive plans for neck, joint, and back pain treatment near you in New Jersey, contact us today.
Joint, Back, and Neck Pain Treatment FAQ
Is multidisciplinary care helpful for chronic pain?
Yes, multidisciplinary care is helpful for treating chronic pain. By combining multiple helpful treatments, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and pain management, patients often have improved outcomes compared to one treatment alone.
How often is the treatment plan adjusted?
Treatment plans are adjusted as needed. This may be every few weeks or months, depending on the patient and the treatments they’re receiving.
What are the benefits of treating pain from more than one angle?
By treating pain from more than one angle, patients get their pain treated as a complex issue rather than just a symptom. This often leads to faster pain relief, reduced reliance on pain medications, and reduced side effects compared to a single treatment.
