Looking for a solution to your aches and pains? Your search ends here!
Unfortunately, most Americans will suffer from temporary back pain at some point in their lives. In fact, one in every four Americans has sustained some sort of back pain in the past three months! This wouldn’t be a huge problem, however, when pain becomes chronic, a person’s quality of life can be negatively affected. The good news is that you don’t have to live with back pain permanently.
If you choose to take a proactive approach, such as working with one of our in-home physical therapists, you may be able to finally find back pain relief. Contact our office for more information on how physical therapy can relieve your back pain, and keep you from being a statistic!
What can physical therapy do for back pain?
The goal with physical therapy is to eliminate the back pain so that you can live a normal life. A big part of working with a physical therapist is that you will learn strategies for movement and carrying out daily tasks in ways that will prevent the pain from recurring. Over the course of your therapy treatment with an in-home physical therapist, your progress will be monitored to ensure that you are recovering and not losing progress.
Your in-home physical therapist will show you proper posture techniques to perform while you are at home, at work, playing sports, or enjoying everyday relaxing activities. They will also teach you how to keep up a regular exercise regimen to keep your supportive muscles strong, which will prevent the back pain from recurring.
If your weight is contributing to your back pain, you will also learn nutritional advice in addition to exercise to control your weight and keep back pain at bay. In-home physical therapy is a safe, natural, and effective way to combat your back pain, and it’s a great alternative to harmful medications or expensive surgeries!
What is causing my back pain?
If you experience back pain, then you know this condition can greatly hinder your daily life and limit you from participating in certain tasks and activities that you enjoy. If left untreated, back pain can also progress into more serious health issues. Did you know that the World Health Organization estimates that approximately 149 million workdays are lost due to back pain? It is a sensation that is all too common for millions of people.
There are three main types of back pain:
- Acute Back Pain: Acute back pain is the most common type of pain experienced.This is a temporary pain that goes away in less than three months, and is considered less urgent, although it can certainly be a nuisance!
- Chronic Back Pain: If back pain lasts longer than three months without subsiding, it is classified as chronic.
- Recurrent Back Pain: This occurs when acute back pain goes away for a while, but then comes back periodically.
Acute back pain is usually not serious and will resolve on its own. Recurring pain and chronic pain, however, can be a sign of a more serious health problem. There is a broad range of potential physical conditions that could be causing your back pain, which include osteoporosis, degenerative disc disease, a herniated disc, fractures, or lumbar spinal stenosis. A physical therapist is a licensed professional who can do a complete assessment of your condition to figure out why you’re experiencing pain.
What can I expect with physical therapy treatment?
Once your back pain has been diagnosed, a personalized course of home-based physical therapy will be created especially for you. In-home physical therapy treatment for back pain will vary based on the diagnosis, your age, weight, physical ability, and other factors.
Your course of treatment may include any or all of the following:
- Posture work: To provide better back support
- Manual therapy and spinal manipulation: To improve joint mobility and relieve tissue pain
- Stretching and strength building exercises
- Heat or ice treatments: To offer localized pain relief
- Education: To learn how to take better care of your back, such as proper methods of lifting, bending, sitting, and sleep positions
How can a physical therapist diagnose my back pain?
When you first begin your journey with an in-home physical therapist, they will start with a discussion of your symptoms. They will also review your medical history for any past injuries or illnesses that could be contributing to your pain symptoms. Your physical therapist will also conduct a full exam to assess how you are able to move and function as a result of your back pain.
This phase of your therapy will also involve some tests to find symptoms of more serious conditions. If your physical therapist suspects that there is a serious health condition contributing to your back pain, you will likely be referred to a specialist for more testing. In most cases, this will not be necessary, but rest assured that if this does end up happening, we’ll make sure you’re in good hands!
Ready to gain effective pain-relief?
If your back pain has lasted longer than three months, it probably isn’t going to go away on its own. If you’re dealing with acute, chronic, or recurring back pain, the key is to be proactive in standing up to your back pain. If you’re ready to gain effective pain relief, contact our office today and schedule your first appointment with an in-home physical therapist.