According to IASP, the international organization for the study of pain, the goal of this year’s campaign is to raise awareness among physicians, scientists and the public about using an integrative approach to pain management. To help improve some types of pain, a physiotherapist explains how the crochet technique works, used in integrative treatments
A International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has established 2023 as the Global Year for Integrative Pain Management. According to the body, due to the opioid crisis affecting people in many countries, the idea of the campaign which will run throughout the year is to help raise awareness among doctors, scientists and the general public about the use of an integrative approach to pain management, in addition to the use of medications.
The IASP says the purpose of awareness is to help millions of people suffering from chronic pain around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates it. 30% of the world’s population suffer from chronic pain. In Brazil, second information of the Brazilian Society for the Study of Pain (SBED), this is also the percentage of the number of Brazilians who complain of some pain.
According to SBED, chronic pain, which conceptually is one that usually persists for more than three months, affects one in five adults, affects more women, occurs during strenuous work or in patients with lower education levels. Furthermore, chronic pain has no biological utility, i.e. it is usually not the alarm for some type of problem, despite having other associated symptoms. It is different from acute pain, which is considered biologically beneficial.
And in pain treatment protocols, there are several options for recommended therapies and remedies based on the nature of the pain and the patient’s history. According to physiotherapist Michelle Janelli Buarque de Macedo do Amaral, one of the important tools within the integrative approach to pain treatment is the crochet hook. According to her, the technique allows to treat the factor causing the pain and is achieving important results.
With more than 15 years of experience using this technique, the professional explains that as early as the first appointment, it is possible to see good results and even immediate pain relief. “It is clear that during a physiotherapy treatment this will not be the only technique used, other forms and techniques of treatment will be associated, but crochet is of great importance to achieve the objectives, including the reduction of treatment times,” he points out .
What is crochet and how does it work?
Physiotherapist Michelle do Amaral explains that crochetagem, also known as instrumental myofascial release, is a manual therapy technique that uses a hook (called crochet in French) as a treatment tool. With the hook it is possible to facilitate the breaking of adhesions and fibrosis between the different sliding planes of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, nerves and joints, restoring the mobility and functionality of the treated area, as well as generating an increase in circulation blood and lymphatic circulation.
“It is the manual therapy technique that I use most as an asset in the treatment of adhesions, fibrosis, tension points and pain, including headaches. It also has a reflex relaxing effect, especially in the regions of the “trigger points” or trigger points , helps dissolve the calcium oxalate crystals that are trapped in the muscles causing painful tension nodules,” comments the practitioner.
Michelle do Amaral adds that the cochetagem technique can also be used preventively, especially in athletes, to avoid the appearance of injuries resulting from intense training. “In addition, the main indications are for adhesions and scar fibrosis, tendinitis, epicondylitis, plantar fasciitis, spurs, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, capsulitis, shin splints, among many others which can be applied according to the evaluation of the physiotherapist trained in the technique” she says.
Contraindications: The professional points out that the contraindications for the use of crochetagem are the same as for any manual treatment. The technique is not indicated, for example, in the presence of skin wounds, burns, acute inflammation, muscle weakness and recent trauma. “It is important to always pay particular attention to the elderly for the fragility of the skin and to respect the patient’s pain threshold,” he adds.
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-janelli-19b432266/
Source: Terra
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