Physical Therapy for Back Pain

Are you suffering from back pain? Does your back pain interfere with your daily activities? You are not alone! Back pain is mostly caused by injury to a muscle (strain) or ligament (sprain). According to a study done by CDC, 9 out of 10 patients doesn’t know the cause of their back pain. Low back pain affects nearly 85-90% of Americans and it is the second leading cause of visits to a doctor.^1,2

If you haven’t started seeing a physical therapist, now might be the time! In general, the goals of physical therapy are to decrease pain, increase function, and provide education on a maintenance program to prevent further recurrences.

Causes of back pain: ³

• Muscle or ligament strain
• Bulging or ruptured discs.
• Arthritis.
• Skeletal irregularities
• Osteoporosis.
• Lifestyle factors
• Obesity
• Poor posture

If you have recurring  back pain, consider:

• Lose any excess weight
• Wear flat shoes with cushioned soles – these can reduce the stress on your back
• Avoid sudden movements or muscle strain
• Try to reduce any stress, anxiety, and tension.

Physical therapists perform a variety of tests and measures including movement screens to dive in deep to find the root cause of your back pain and find factors that might contribute to your pain and create a customized treatment plan to help relieve your pain.

What to expect from a physical therapist during your visit:⁴

• The physical therapist will perform an initial evaluation during your visit
• During the initial evaluation, a history about present problem and medical history will be taken.
• The physical therapist will take measurements of movement–. These include measurements of range of motion
• From the results of the evaluation, a specific treatment plan will be advised

There are many causes as to why back pain occurs. Physical therapists are equipped to help relieve your pain!  Contact us today to schedule an evaluation. Visit our website to learn more!

Cici Madawala, B.S.
Director of Marketing
Live Your Life^TM
Bringing Physical Therapy & Wellness to You!

Cici Madawala graduated from St Cloud State ͐University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and minors in Geography and German

She is passionate about helping people and strives to help individuals get back on healthy routines and do the things they love. In her leisure time, she loves to travel, and explore other cultures and cuisines.

References
¹30 Of The Most Surprising (And Alarming) Back Pain Statistics, The Good Body, https://www.thegoodbody.com/back-pain-statistics/. Accessed 1 November 2018.

²Physical Therapy as Treatment for Lower Back Pain, Very well health, https://www.verywellhealth.com/physical-therapy-and-exercises-for-low-back-pain-2696180. Accessed 1 November 2018.

³Middle back pain: Causes and relief, Medical News Today,https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321195.php. Accessed 1 November 2018.

⁴Do You Know Why You Have Back Pain? Here’s How You Can Find Out, PPS American Physical Therapy Association, https://ppsapta.org/marketing/blog/browse.cfm?recID=10DCCB7B-5056-A04E-37A956B3415D52F1. Accessed 1 November 2018.