Get rid of your low back pain with Physical Therapy

Over 85% of Americans have experienced low back pain. Just as there are many reasons for low back pain, there are as many ways to treat it. Back pain can originate from joint, soft tissue, or nerve pathologies (to really simplify things). X-rays and MRIs have limited clinical relevance, so asking your physician to prescribe an MRI for low back pain has been shown to be a waste of time and money. Unless you're suffering from acute trauma or accident, have a history of cancer, a weakened immune system, unexplained fever, numbness and tingling in your groin or anal region, loss of bowel or bladder control, unexplained weight loss, or prolonged use of corticosteroids. In those cases, it would probably be a good idea to go get medical attention and an X-ray or MRI.

But for the majority of low back pain cases, the most important step before going to get an X-ray or MRI is a thorough physical exam.

Physical Therapy is a proven treatment for low back pain. The physical exam is the starting point. It should include a posture assessment, a movement screen, and manual testing for neuromuscular involvement. The physical exam can tell a clinician a great deal more than a static snap-shot that is the X-ray or MRI. This especially goes for back pain that is caused by movement and postures that are not assessed with the X-ray or MRI.

If your back hurts when you sit or bend, is a test that looks at you lying down really relevant?

After the physical exam, a Physical Therapist can develop a treatment plan that ultimately gets you back to doing the thing you want to do pain-free. The treatment should include soft tissue mobilization techniques, joint mobilizations or manipulations, posture correction and body mechanics training, and other therapeutic exercises.

Therapeutic exercises are important. They retrain your body to move a different way and re-engage dormant muscles, changing the way you move or stand or sit. This can build resiliency in the long run and reduces your risk for re-injury. Being more aware of what causes your low back pain and how to treat it yourself is the key ingredient. Correct movement and posture is the way to getting rid of your back pain permanently.

Exercises and posture correction is like any other medication for a disease process. If you take a blood pressure medication 3 times a day, why not do an exercise that treats your back pain 3 times a day?

There are many causes of low back pain, and there are many ways to treat it. Contact PAR5 Physical Therapy to find out more.