Opioids are drugs that act on receptors within the brain and spinal cord to reduce a person’s perception of pain. While some opioids are illegal in the United States, such as heroin and fentanyl, others can be prescribed legally for pain relief, such as morphine, codeine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. Although opioids can be helpful in the management of certain conditions when used as directed by a physician, opioid abuse has become a public health crisis in the United States. Addiction is a very real risk of opioid use and is becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), 128 people in the United States die each day of an opioid overdose. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the economic burden of prescription opioid abuse is roughly $78.5 billion a year, which includes the cost of healthcare, addiction treatment, lost productivity, and criminal justice involvement.
Below are some additional statistics, taken from the NIH website:
- 21% to 29% of patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them
- Between 8% and 12% develop an opioid use disorder
- An estimated 4% to 6% of people that misuse heroin first misused prescription opioids
- In 2017, an estimated 1.7 million people in the United States suffered from substance abuse disorders related to prescription opioid use
Addiction and overdose are not the only risks associated with opioid use. New research has shown that opioid use can actually intensify chronic pain over time, a phenomenon called “Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia.” Opioids have also been shown to induce or worsen mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Additionally, long term opioid use has been linked to respiratory depression, hormonal imbalances, and immunosuppression.
How Can Physical Therapy Help?
Physical therapy can reduce opioid use by helping to control chronic pain. Exercise has been linked to decreased pain perception and can help to stimulate the release of endorphins, which are “feel good chemicals” produced naturally by the body. Rather than simply masking pain, physical therapy can create real change within the body. Through the development of individualized treatment plans, physical therapy can help to increase muscle strength, flexibility and restore function and mobility. A research study published in 2018 showed that patients with chronic pain who received physical therapy were less likely to use opioids. The same study found that patients that did continue to use opioids used them for a shorter duration and in smaller doses when they also received physical therapy.
The Bottom Line
Physical therapy can be a great tool to reduce pain and improve mobility and function in patients with both acute injuries and chronic pain. PT can play an important role in curbing opioid abuse and managing the phenomenon that has come to be known as the “Opioid Crisis” in the United States.
If you have any questions related to chronic pain or need help with mobility and function from an acute injury, we are happy to help. You can email us at rockville@fyzical.com or call us at 301-948-4395 to schedule an assessment with a physical therapist.
- As reported in the May 27, 2020, National Institute on Drug Abuse, "Opioid Overdose Crisis" and in the December 14, 2018, Duke Clinical Research Institute, "Early Physical Therapy Could Reduce Opioid Dependence for Pain Patients"