Relieve Low Back Pain with Physical Therapy
Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek physical therapy. At any given time, 25% of Americans report having experienced low back pain in the last three months. Low back pain can be acute pain (lasting less than 3 months) or become chronic pain (that is continuous for 12 weeks or more after initial injury is treated).
Low back pain can result from poor posture and spine alignment; a sprain or strain when lifting; a traumatic injury from a sport, car accident, or fall; or due to degenerative issues associated with age and other health conditions like arthritis. Pain can be dull, burning, or sharp; located at a single point or over a broad area; may exhibit muscle spasms or stiffness; and can lead to pain radiating through the leg (sciatica). While low back pain can be very intense, it is not necessarily indicative of a serious ongoing injury and imaging scans like x-rays and MRIs are not representative of the intensity of the pain a person is experiencing.
Physical therapy is a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment option for low back pain. A physical therapist can help improve and restore mobility and reduce your low back pain without the high costs of imaging scans, surgery, and medications. Contrary to popular opinion, resting until the pain resolves is actually counterproductive to the healing process. Staying active is an important aspect of successfully addressing back pain.
A physical therapist can help a patient suffering from low back pain engage in movement safely, decrease pain, increase function, and strengthen the low back and abdominal muscles to stabilize the back and prevent future injury. Physical therapists craft a graded exercise program according to the patient’s condition and tolerance level to help the patient return to daily activities that currently cause pain. The therapist works with the patient to break down the painful activity into smaller pain-free movements. This allows the nervous and musculoskeletal system to create pain-free associations with the activity and helps the patient feel safe moving.
A physical therapy program for low back pain may include:
Stretching Exercises: improve range of motion and bring relief to muscles that are spasming due to nerve irritation
Dynamic Stabilization Exercises: strengthen muscles of the spine using exercise balls, balancing machines, and specific stabilizing exercises
Core Strengthening Exercises: strengthen low back muscles and abdominals to support the spine through sit ups, crunches, and leg raises
Low-impact aerobic exercise activity such as walking or using the stationary bike
Training for proper posture, lifting, bending, and sitting
Aquatic Therapy: Exercising in water makes it easier to move as water supports the body’s weight and relieves inflammation
Lumbar Traction: unloads disc space and muscles in the lumbar spine to relieve pain
Manual Therapy: spinal manipulation to improve joint and soft tissue mobility
Following physical therapy treatment for low back pain, the physical therapist creates a home exercise plan to help the patient continue to strengthen his back and abdominal muscles. Ongoing exercise reduces the likelihood and severity of future low back pain flare-ups.
Call Mangiarelli Rehabilitation today to start on the road to recovery and manage your low back pain!
