Physical Therapy can provide Relief for Lower Back Pain

What type of work is most appropriate depends on the cause

If you’re suffering from low back pain that lasts longer than a few weeks Your doctor may recommend you to a physical therapist. While simple methods like applying heat or cold or using pain relief pills available over the counter might help, the best treatment for back pain is to exercise and other treatments under the direction of physical therapy.

“First and foremost, we attempt to figure out the kind of back pain we’re experiencing,”  Are you dealing with chronic or acute pain, and what’s the root of the problem? “We perform tests to determine the type of treatment that will perform best,”.

1) Repeated motion

An exercise program that is repeated can help if the problem is caused by irritation or pressure on a nerve due to a disc bulge or spinal stenosis. With these conditions, it is common for pain to radiate down the leg and there could be numbness and weakening, and tingling. Sometimes leg pain can be more acute than back pain.

A bulging disk occurs when a small portion of one of the cushioning disks between vertebrae in the spine press upon nearby nerves. Spinal stenosis can be described as a condition in which the opening that nerves pass through is narrowed. This can cause nerve damage.

“If we can reduce the pain in the leg by using either of these two types of motion it means that the patient could fall into the category of repetitive movement.”

To alleviate pressure on the nerves, if the pain is worse when you move forward, bending backward could be an option. These types of exercises are also referred to as McKenzie exercises. The other motion is forward-bending exercises that open up the pressure area in the spine if the pain from bending forward is less.

2) Stabilization

Stabilization exercises are the second kind of treatment. Houser suggests that exercises for stabilization are for those who are struggling with certain movements, such as lifting themselves up from a chair or turning in the bed. This can occur when muscles deep within the abdomen which support the spine are weak or aren’t working properly.

That back pain can cause people to be unable to work the muscles they need to. “When deep spinal muscles weaken, the muscles around them become overly tight as they attempt to stabilize the spine, but this isn’t their job as tightness and pain will often develop.”

The goal of stabilization exercises is to strengthen the muscles that are deep. In order to stabilize the spine, a physical therapist will guide you on how to utilize your spine and abdominal muscles.

Solution #3: Manipulation/mobilization

If you have back stiffness A physical therapist could perform manipulation or mobilization. These are the kinds of methods that are often used by chiropractors. Stiffness can result from many reasons, such as osteoarthritis.

With manipulation, the practitioner performs quick and swift thrusting movements on a joint when the body is in a particular place. Mobilization is similar to manipulation however, the method is slower and gentler.

“Not all physical therapists practice manipulation, but the majority use mobilization techniques,” 

Your solution? You could try a mix

There are three different types of treatment. But, there is crossover. Houser states that we can begin a person with mobilization and then add stabilization and other activities.

The importance of understanding the normal course of back pain. There is a possibility that you will experience periodic episodes of back pain but there often is recovery every time.

“We help patients to experience fewer episodes or manage those episodes on their own in the event that they occur.”