Sciatica is nerve pain that radiates from the low back through the buttocks and down the length of the leg due to compression of the sciatic nerve. Originating in the low back, the sciatic nerve is most commonly compressed by a herniated or slipped disc, causing shooting pain and tingling and numbness through the back and leg. Physical therapy is one of the most effective treatments for sciatica, reducing inflammation, managing and minimizing pain, improving your physical function and mobility, and preventing the reoccurrence of sciatica symptoms.

Spondylolysis is a lumbar stress fracture in the pars interarticularis, the bony bridge that connects the upper and lower facet joints of the vertebrae. Spondylolysis is a common cause of low back pain in adolescent athletes, caused by repetitive loading, backward bending, and twisting of the lower back. Physical therapy can successfully manage spondylolysis in adolescent athletes, helping to reduce pain, improve strength and function in the low back, and safely return athletes to sports competition.

Autumn brings with it stunning landscapes of red, gold, and orange leaves. However, the aftermath of the turning of the leaves can involve raking and bagging an enormous number of leaves in our yard. Weekly leaf raking during the fall can take quite a toll on your body if you are using incorrect biomechanics that strains your back, neck, and shoulders. The low back is particularly vulnerable to injury when raking due to the repetitive movements and constant bending and lifting of raking. Check out our tips to protect your back this season when raking leaves!

On the blog, Mangiarelli Rehabilitation physical therapist Bobby demonstrates exercises to relieve acute low back pain. Low back pain is the most common condition treated by physical therapists, affecting 30% of Americans each year. Low back pain can involve dull, burning, throbbing, sharp, or shooting pain in the lumbar spine and through the buttocks and leg. Physical therapy is the first line of treatment for low back pain. A physical therapist can improve and restore mobility in the low back as well as reduce low back pain without expensive surgery or pain medications.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis affecting the spine, often due to age-related wear and tear and mechanical changes in the spinal discs. Spinal osteoarthritis leads to pain in the back and neck and stiffness and loss of mobility in the spine. Physical therapy can help to reduce spinal osteoarthritis symptoms, slow progression of the disease, and instruct patients how to safely exercise.

Check out our infographic on physical therapy for sciatica pain! Physical therapy is the most effective treatment for sciatica pain. Sciatica is nerve pain that originates in the low back and radiates down the length of the leg due to irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. Physical therapists treat sciatica pain through targeted strengthening of the low back, hips, and gluteal muscles, a progressive exercise program, manual therapy, and aquatic therapy.

Physical therapy is the first-line treatment for herniated discs. A herniated disc occurs when the outer ring of the intervertebral disc of the spine is torn, allowing the gelatin-like core to leak which irritates and compresses nearby nerves. This can cause radiating pain, weakness, numbness, and loss of sensation in the back, leg, neck, and shoulder. Physical therapists help those with a herniated disc relieve pain and restore function through strengthening exercises, manual therapy, and posture training.

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction involves pain and altered function in the sacroiliac joints of the pelvis and is often associated with low back pain. The sacroiliac joint absorbs shock placed on the lower body to reduce pressure felt in the lower spine. Physical therapy is an essential component of sacroiliac joint dysfunction rehabilitation, reducing pain and restoring normal pelvic symmetry through therapeutic exercise and manual therapy.

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek physical therapy. Nearly 80% of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their life. However, there are numerous ways to support spinal health and prevent back pain, such as regular exercise, an ergonomic workspace, physical therapy, and proper lifting techniques. Check out our latest blog for our 10 Tips for a Healthy Back!

Back surgery is a major surgery requiring intensive post-surgical rehabilitation to obtain the most benefit from surgery. Physical therapy helps back surgery patients improve gait, alignment, mobility, balance, and strength after surgery safely and gradually. On the blog, we highlight one back surgery patient’s progress in walking ability after one month of physical therapy.

Your spine supports your body in all your daily activities and movements with nearly every movement originating from the spine. It’s critical to care for and strengthen the upper and lower spine for optimal function and to prevent injury. Back and neck pain are among the most common musculoskeletal spine-related injuries. Physical therapy can treat spine-related issues and restore strength and stability in the spine safely and effectively.

Nearly 80% of Americans experience back pain at some point in their lives. Misconceptions about back pain and proper treatment for it contributes to the prevalence of ongoing back pain and overspending on diagnostic tests, MRIs, medication, and surgery that can be avoided in most cases. Today, we debunk 7 myths about back pain and explain how physical therapy can help you manage chronic back pain.

Sciatica pain is nerve pain that radiates from the low back through the length of the leg due to compression of the sciatic nerve. Physical therapy is the first line of treatment for sciatica pain management, relief, and treatment. Learn what sciatica pain is, how physical therapy treats it, and watch a video by Mangiarelli Rehabilitation therapist Mike for exercises to relieve sciatica pain.

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. 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. Staying active is an important aspect of successfully addressing your back pain. 

Nearly 80% of working Americans experience symptoms of back pain at some point in their lives. Early intervention for musculoskeletal pain like back pain has been shown to decrease health costs and improve recovery outcomes for the patient. Physical therapy not only will decrease medical costs for a patient with back pain, but also help restore movement and teach the patient how to minimize and manage pain in the future.