Back Pain
What is service?
Back pain can have causes that aren’t due to underlying disease. Examples include overuse such as working out or lifting too much, prolonged sitting and lying down, sleeping in an uncomfortable position or wearing a poorly fitting backpack.
Why should I have service?/When you need
The short- and long-term goals of physical therapy for back pain typically include the following: Decrease painful symptoms in the lower back and/or leg. Improve low back function to tolerate daily activities as independently as possible. Increase the spine’s flexibility and improve its range of motion.
What is beneficial for back pain?
Acupuncture, massage, biofeedback therapy, laser therapy, electrical nerve stimulation and other nonsurgical spine treatments can also make a difference for chronic back pain. Talk to your spine specialist about alternative treatments that could benefit you.
What to Expect
Your therapist will teach proper body posture techniques for sitting, standing, and lifting that reduce the likelihood of back strain or injury. You will also learn specific exercises to do at home. Regularly performing these recommended home exercises can help your back muscles strengthen more quickly.
What therapy is needed for back pain?
What are the common conditions of back pain?
Doctors and researchers describe the types of back pain in the following ways:
Causes and symptoms back pain
Back pain along with:
- Trouble urinating.
- Weakness, pain, or numbness in your legs.
- Fever.
- Weight loss that you did not intend.
causes of back pain
Back pain can be caused by many different factors, which may all be present at the same time and interact to result in chronic low back pain. These could include mechanical or structural problems with the spine, inflammatory conditions, and other medical conditions. It is also possible that no specific cause can be identified for the start of back pain.
Treatment
Medications
Medications depend on the type of back pain. They might include:
- Pain relievers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), might help. Take these medications only as directed. Overuse can cause serious side effects.
- Muscle relaxants. If mild to moderate back pain doesn’t improve with pain relievers, a muscle relaxant might help. Muscle relaxants can cause dizziness and sleepiness.
- Topical pain relievers. These products, including creams, salves, ointments and patches, deliver pain-relieving substances through the skin.
- Narcotics. Drugs containing opioids, such as oxycodone or hydrocodone, may be used for a short time with close medical supervision.
- Antidepressants. Some types of antidepressants — particularly duloxetine (Cymbalta) and tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline — have been shown to relieve chronic back pain.
Physical therapy
Surgical and other procedures
Procedures used to treat back pain may include:
- Cortisone injections.
- Radiofrequency ablation.
- Implanted nerve stimulators.
- Surgery.
Risk factors
- Age. Back pain is more common with age, starting around age 30 or 40.
- Lack of exercise. Weak, unused muscles in the back and abdomen might lead to back pain.
- Excess weight. Excess body weight puts extra stress on the back.
- Diseases.
- Improper lifting.
- Psychological conditions.
- Smoking.
Prevention
- Do muscle-strengthening and stretching exercises at least 2 days a week.
- Stand and sit up straight.
- Avoid heavy lifting. If you do lift something heavy, bend your knees and keep your back straight.
- Get active and eat healthy. Being overweight can strain your back.
What procedure is done for back pain?
FAq's
1
What to expect in back physical therapy?
2
What are Risk Factors for Developing Back Pain?
Risk factors for developing back pain include age and physical condition. Older people and those who are overweight run a higher risk of developing back pain. Also, “weekend warriors” or those who have jobs involving heavy lifting are more likely to develop back pain than others.
3
How long is physical therapy for back pain?
4
What happens after physical therapy is done?
5
What exercises help with back pain?
There are many types of exercise recommended for back pain, including:
- Biking.
- Daily activities such as house cleaning and gardening.
- Low-impact aerobics.
- Resistance exercises.
- Stationary cycling.
- Stretching exercises.
- Swimming.
6
Does physical therapy have side effects?
It is completely normal to be sore after a treatment, or even have a flare-up temporarily after. We are working on injured muscles/joints, therefore, it’s normal to experience slightly more soreness and pain after treatment, or experience more DOMs.
Ready to Get Started
We have made it easy to request your first appointment with our doctors