Even more distressing, many Americans are treating pain with dangerous prescription drugs.
"The amount of painkillers, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone sold in the United States, has nearly quadrupled," the Washington Post reported, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (NIH: More than 1 in 10 American adults experience chronic pain – August 11, 2015). As of 2020, the CDC estimates that 45 people die each day in the United States as a result of prescription opioid overdose.
The good news is that physical therapists provide an effective, if underused, alternative to prescription drugs in the treatment of pain. Here are 9 things you should know about pain.
The American Physical Therapy Association launched a national campaign to raise awareness about the risks of opioids and the safe alternative of physical therapy for long-term pain management. Learn more at our Safe Pain Management page.
Related Resources
- Health Center on Opioid Use for Pain Management
- Physical Therapy vs Opioids: When to Choose Physical Therapy for Pain Management
- CDC Recommends Physical Therapy and Other Nondrug Options for Chronic Pain
- Using Opioids for More Than 30 Days Could Increase Depression Risk
- Health Center on Pain
Additional Information
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