At some point in their lives, most Americans will experience temporary back pain. However, it becomes a big quality of life concern when back pain is not temporary and lingers on for some time. Dealing with chronic back pain can seriously put a damper on your mood, day after day.
The good news is that there is no need for you to live with back pain forever. Taking a positive approach, such as consulting with a physical therapist, will allow you to eventually find back pain relief. For more information about how physical therapy can alleviate your back pain, contact our office. Keep reading to learn more about the types of back pain and how physical therapy can help!
The different types of back pain
Back pain is usually not serious and will resolve on its own. Recurring pain and chronic pain, however, can be a sign of a more serious health problem.
There are three main types of back pain:
- Recurrent Back Pain: This occurs when acute back pain goes away for a while, but then comes back periodically.
- Acute Back Pain: Acute back pain is the most common type. This is a temporary pain that goes away in less than three months.
- Chronic Back Pain: If back pain lasts longer than three months without subsiding, it is classified as chronic.
There is a broad range of potential physical conditions that could be causing your back pain, which include
- Osteoporosis
- Degenerative disk disease
- A herniated disk
- Fractures
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
How can a physical therapist diagnose pain?
A discussion of your symptoms will begin your journey with a physical therapist. Your therapist will also check your medical history for any previous accidents or conditions that could lead to your current discomfort. Your physical therapist will also assess to determine how you can walk and function.
Some tests are performed to find signs of more severe conditions and will also require a diagnosis. You will most likely be referred to a doctor for further examination if your physical therapist believes that there is a significant health problem that leads to your back pain. This will not be necessary in most cases, however.
What does physical therapy look like?
Once your back pain has been diagnosed, a personalized course of physical therapy will be created for you. Treatments for back pain will vary based on the diagnosis, your age, weight, physical ability, and other factors. Your course of treatment may include any of the following:
- Manual therapy and spinal manipulation to improve joint mobility and relieve tissue pain
- Education on how to take better care of your back, such as proper methods of lifting, bending, sitting, and sleeping positions
- Stretching and strength-building exercises
- Hot or cold treatments, or electrical stimulation, for pain relief
- Posture work to provide better support for your back
A big part of working with a physical therapist is that you will learn strategies for movement and carrying out daily tasks in ways that will prevent the pain from recurring.
Your progress will be monitored to ensure that you are recovering throughout your treatment with a physical therapist. The goal is to eliminate your back pain so that you can live a normal life.
A physical therapist will show you proper posture techniques to practice while you are at home, at work, or enjoying leisure activities. You will also learn how to keep up a regular exercise regimen to keep your supportive muscles strong, which will prevent the back pain from coming back. If your weight is contributing to your back pain, you will learn nutritional advice in addition to exercise to control your weight and keep back pain at bay.
You can prevent back pain from happening!
A little prevention goes a long way. If you want to avoid future back pain, you can make sure you’re being good to your back. Below are a few ways you can adjust your movements to prevent back pain from occurring.
Use Strength Training
Your body has hundreds of muscles. These muscles protect and control your spine. By lifting weights, running, and swimming, you can keep them strong. Train your core muscles. In doing so, you’ll easily control quick, lifting movements.
Lift Properly
You pick things up constantly. Even if you’re lifting something light, make sure you’re facing the object. Squat and keep your spine straight. Lift with your leg muscles, as this will reduce the pressure placed on your spine.
Use Good Posture
When you’re standing, imagine a string is attached to the top of your head—lifting you. This will keep your hips, spine, shoulders, and neck aligned. If you’re sitting, don’t slouch over your work or screen.
Call our clinic today
The key is to be proactive in standing up to your back pain. If the pain lasts longer than three months, it probably won’t go away on its own. Call our office today to schedule your first appointment with a physical therapist.
