Physical and Interventional Treatments for Pain: Therapies That Go Beyond Medication
Introduction
Pain can affect every part of life—but it doesn’t always require medication alone to manage. For many people living with chronic or acute pain, physical and interventional treatments offer meaningful alternatives that support long-term recovery, improve function, and reduce reliance on medications.
This article is part of our Comprehensive Guide to Pain and Pain Management, exploring safe, evidence-based options for improving quality of life.
Physiotherapy and Exercise Rehabilitation
Movement is one of the most powerful tools for managing pain—when it’s done right, and with care.
Exercise Therapy
Structured physical activity can improve strength, mobility, circulation, and pain tolerance.
It is recommended for conditions like arthritis, chronic low back pain, and fibromyalgia.
Most studies show favorable outcomes when exercise is introduced gradually and consistently, with minimal adverse effects (Geneen et al., 2017).
Individually Tailored Programs
Programs work best when personalized to each person’s capabilities and goals.
Approaches like graded activity and cognition-targeted movement therapy help patients overcome fear of movement and build confidence over time (De Oliveira et al., 2024).
Manual Therapy
When combined with exercise, hands-on techniques like joint mobilization and soft tissue release can ease pain and stiffness—especially in the spine.
A classification-based approach guided by a physical therapist or chiropractor often achieves better results (Qaseem et al., 2017; Macedo et al., 2021).
Mind-Body Therapies
Techniques such as yoga, tai chi, Pilates, and mindfulness meditation help reduce pain sensitivity, improve mood, and support gentle movement.
While accessibility can vary, these strategies are backed by moderate evidence and work especially well when used consistently (RACGP, 2013).
Interventional Treatments
Interventional procedures are particularly valuable for people with refractory pain or those who cannot tolerate medications.
Nerve Blocks
Injections of local anesthetic, sometimes combined with corticosteroids, can temporarily reduce inflammation and interrupt pain signals.
They are most often used for conditions like sciatica, facet joint pain, or post-surgical nerve pain, but typically offer short-term relief (Dydyk & Gupta, 2023).
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)
TENS involves applying gentle electrical currents to the skin to disrupt pain signals.
It is non-invasive and portable, making it an accessible option for home use as part of a broader plan.
Best results occur when TENS is used alongside movement and pacing strategies (Macedo et al., 2021).
Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)
This advanced technique uses implanted electrodes to send controlled impulses to the spinal cord, interfering with pain pathways.
It’s typically reserved for people with severe, long-standing nerve pain that has not responded to other treatments.
While invasive, it has been shown to reduce pain and improve function in select cases (Dydyk & Gupta, 2023).
Integrating Physical and Interventional Approaches
Pain is rarely just physical—or just emotional. That’s why the most effective care plans take a multimodal approach.
Combining exercise, manual therapy, and interventional procedures with psychological support leads to the best outcomes.
This whole-person strategy recognises that movement, mindset, environment, and biology all influence pain.
Multimodal care also supports greater independence, less fear, and improved long-term function (NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, 2023).
Conclusion
Physical and interventional treatments provide real, practical hope for people living with pain. From personalized exercise plans and hands-on therapy to modern nerve stimulation and targeted injections, these strategies expand your options—and your confidence.
Whether you’re managing pain from injury, surgery, or a chronic condition, these tools can help you move more freely, feel more empowered, and live more fully.
Related Articles:
Self-Management Strategies for Chronic Pain
Opioids and Pain Medications: Risks and Relief
Mental Health and Chronic Pain
Reference List
De Oliveira, C. B., Franco, M. R., Maher, C. G., Pinto, R. Z., & Ferreira, P. H. (2024). Exercise therapy and physical activity in the paradigm shift from a tissue- and disease-based pain management approach towards multimodal lifestyle interventions for patients with chronic pain. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy, 28(4), 101–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2024.01.011
Dydyk, A. M., & Gupta, M. (2023). Clinical pain management: Current practice and recent innovations. Current Pain and Headache Reports, 28(2), 123–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coph.2023.12.001
Geneen, L. J., Moore, R. A., Clarke, C., Martin, D., Colvin, L. A., & Smith, B. H. (2017). Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults: An overview of Cochrane Reviews. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4), CD011279. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011279.pub3
Macedo, L. G., Maher, C. G., Latimer, J., & McAuley, J. H. (2021). Interventions for the management of acute and chronic low back pain: A systematic review. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 51(10), 456–470. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2021.0304
NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation. (2023). Chronic Pain Management Strategies. Retrieved from https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/216308/Chronic_Pain_Management_Strategies.pdf
Qaseem, A., Wilt, T. J., McLean, R. M., & Forciea, M. A. (2017). Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: A clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 166(7), 514–530. https://doi.org/10.7326/M16-2367
RACGP. (2013). Mind-body therapies – use in chronic pain management. Australian Family Physician, 42(3), 112–117. https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2013/march/mind-body-therapies