How Can Someone With Back Pain Benefit From Physical Therapy?
Are you relentlessly pursuing relief from back pain? Are you tired of remedies that promise a lot but deliver a little? Your quest for comfort ends here!
People with back pain are often trapped in a cycle of discomfort, restricted movement, and anxiety about their condition. However, hope is not lost. Physical therapy at PT Unlimited offers a powerful pathway to alleviate this suffering, restoring mobility and quality of life.
Back pain is a pervasive problem, impacting millions of lives daily. It’s estimated that approximately 80% of the population will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Furthermore, low back pain is the most common cause of job-related disability.
Although back pain affects individuals across all age spectrums, it is most common among adults aged 35 to 55 years. The intensity of pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp sensation that leaves the person incapacitated. While most cases of back pain are acute, lasting for a few days to weeks, some individuals may experience chronic back pain, which persists for 12 weeks or longer, even after an initial injury or underlying cause of acute low back pain has been treated.
Our physical therapy approach has been shown to reduce back pain significantly. We can substantially improve your pain levels and functional abilities by focusing on strength and mobility exercises, posture correction, and education on protecting your back.
At PT Unlimited, we understand that back pain is more than just discomfort—it impacts your ability to live, work, and enjoy life. We’re committed to providing tailored, evidence-based physical therapy solutions that address your unique needs.
Why Does My Back Hurt?
Approximately 80% of adults experience back pain each year, making it one of the most prevalent health complaints worldwide. The intricate complexity of our back, consisting of a network of muscles, bones, ligaments, and nerves, often leaves us asking: “Why does my back hurt?” The answer to this question is multifaceted and hinges on a range of factors, from lifestyle choices and physical strain to underlying medical conditions.
Numerous research studies have linked back pain to several common culprits. Physical strain from activities such as heavy lifting or prolonged periods of sitting can lead to acute back pain. Additionally, lifestyle factors such as obesity, poor posture, and lack of physical activity can increase the risk of chronic back pain. Conditions like osteoarthritis and disc degeneration can also contribute to persistent pain.
Understanding the root cause of your back pain is just the beginning. A comprehensive and individualized treatment approach is crucial for alleviating pain and improving function. Physical therapy at PT Unlimited is integral to this process. Through a combination of therapeutic exercises, manual therapy techniques, and patient education, physical therapists help patients manage their pain, enhance mobility, and prevent further injury.
The first step in your journey towards a pain-free life is understanding the ‘why’ behind your back pain. This knowledge enables you to make informed decisions about your treatment options and overall health.
How Physical Therapy Can Provide Back Pain Relief
Physical therapy at PT Unlimited is highly effective for relieving back pain. Our team of skilled physical therapists uses a combination of treatments validated by peer-reviewed research studies to address your unique needs and enhance your quality of life.
When you come in for an evaluation, our physical therapists first take a thorough history to understand your past illnesses, surgeries, and injuries. Next, we’ll conduct a hands-on assessment to assess the condition of your muscles and joints. This allows us to identify areas of tenderness or restrictions contributing to your back pain.
Our physical therapists will also perform specialized functional testing as part of our movement exam to understand how your back pain affects your everyday life and help us tailor our treatment plan to your specific needs and lifestyle. PT Unlimited takes an active functional approach which requires active participation from the pt to change movement patterns that are contributing to the pain.
We’ll utilize a range of treatment techniques, including the following:
- Manual Therapy: This is a specialized form of physical therapy where our therapist uses their hands to apply pressure on muscle tissue and manipulate joints, including the Hesch Method. Our goal is to decrease back pain caused by muscle spasms, tension, and joint dysfunction. The Hesch Method is a technique focused on treating pain originating from the Sacroiliac (SI) joint. The method accurately assesses joint mobility and determines the root cause of dysfunction. This patient-friendly method allows for easy replication at home after appropriate instruction by our therapist.
- Therapeutic Exercise Programs: Our therapists will design individualized exercise programs that can help improve strength, flexibility, mobility, and posture. Postural exercises can be used to correct alignment issues that may be contributing to pain.
- Modalities: We may use heat, ice, ultrasound, and/or electrical stimulation as needed
- Patient Education and Self-Management: This could involve learning about safe movement and lifting techniques, strategies for maintaining activity levels during a pain episode, methods for stress management, and understanding the warning signs of a potential back pain flare-up.
Call today to Schedule a comprehensive evaluation with one of our expert physical therapists!