5 Benefits of Physical Therapy for Back Pain
Back pain can be caused by many things. Physical therapy can help treat the pain and prevent it from returning.
PT treatment here may include manual therapy (spinal manipulation), massage, ice and heat treatments and electrical stimulation to reduce inflammation. Exercises are also recommended to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility.
1. Reduced Pain
Back pain can range from a mild, dull ache to a sharp, burning sensation. It can affect the muscles, spinal ligaments, and tendons that support and move your back. One wrong lift or sudden movement can strain these structures and lead to pain.
Physical therapy reduces pain by decreasing muscle spasms, improving the strength of the supporting structures of your spine and increasing flexibility. A therapist can also teach you how to sit, stand and move correctly to decrease your risk of future injuries.
Before starting your physical therapy your doctor will perform a medical exam and may recommend X-rays or an MRI to determine the cause of your pain. Your therapist can then provide treatment that will help you recover more quickly and improve your quality of life.
2. Improved Mobility
In addition to pain reduction, physical therapists help you increase the range of motion in your back and neck. Exercises, manual therapy techniques and ice/heat applications will all help you move more freely, with less pain.
This increased mobility also decreases the dependency on medication and reduces the need for surgery to treat your back pain. Surgery is invasive, risky and can take a long time to recover from. Studies have shown that starting physical therapy as the first step in your treatment plan decreases the need for surgeries and medications.
Your physical therapist will help you learn proper body posture for sitting, standing and lifting to reduce the chance of future back injuries. They will teach you how to properly perform these activities at home and at work, which can help prevent future pain.
3. Strengthened Muscles
Your spine’s bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles are designed to support your body in motion. However, a sudden strain or injury compromises their ability to perform this function. Strengthening your back and other muscles that provide posterior support can reduce stress on the spine preventing pain and injury.
Your physical therapist can instruct you on proper posture and movement patterns for home, work and recreational activities that prevent unnecessary strain on the back they can also teach you stretches and exercises to do at home to speed up recovery.
They may use modalities (like heat and cold therapy) and electronic stimulation to alleviate pain they can also use dry needling, a technique that applies monofilament needles to relax myofascial trigger points and improve movement and mobility.
4. Reduced Risk of Recurring Injuries
Recurrent back injuries can be the result of bad habits such as poor posture, muscle imbalances and motor recruitment impairments. these may be aggravated by quick changes in physical activity, overworking of the body or inadequate rest.
A physical therapist can assess your movement patterns to determine the root cause of your back pain. Using manual therapy techniques such as joint mobilization, passive soft tissue mobilization and dry needling, a therapist can reduce the stiffness, tightness and pain in your spine.
In addition to easing pain, physical therapists also teach patients proper lifting, bending and sitting habits to prevent further back problems in the future this can result in less need for doctor visits and shorter duration of missed work, according to one study.
5. Prevention
Back pain can be prevented with simple steps like taking a pain reliever, getting enough rest and applying ice or heat. But if your back pain doesn’t improve with these self-care methods, it may be time to seek help.
PTs are movement experts and they can teach you how to move your body correctly they can also help you retrain your movements and decision-making that put undue strain on joints, ligaments or muscles.
For example, a physical therapist might recommend placing a pillow or rolled towel behind your back while sitting for long periods of time to maintain the spine’s natural curve or encourage you to stop driving for long periods and walk around every hour they might also suggest core strengthening and stress reduction activities like yoga or tai chi.
Back pain can be caused by many things. Physical therapy can help treat the pain and prevent it from returning. PT treatment here may include manual therapy (spinal manipulation), massage, ice and heat treatments and electrical stimulation to reduce inflammation. Exercises are also recommended to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility. 1. Reduced Pain Back pain…