Want to hear something CRAZY?!?! It’s recorded that 8 out of 10 Americans suffer from low back and/or neck pain at some point in their lives (APTA). That’s a little discouraging, right? Well, the good news is 100% of Physical Therapists know how to prevent and treat it. Don’t worry, we have your back (pun intended!). Now that we’ve established that the person to your right AND left probably have back pain as well, you can come out of hiding… You are not alone!
Causes of Back Pain
Back pain can be associated with a single incident, other times it seems to come out of nowhere. There are many causes of back pain, including:
- Muscle strain from overuse
- Poor techniques used when lifting
- Traumatic injury (i.e. auto accidents, work and sports injuries)
- Lack of strength and conditioning due to inactivity (i.e. sitting too much)
- Spinal Degeneration/Osteoarthritis
- Pregnancy and child birth
Physical Therapy is performed by experts in the field of musculoskeletal medicine. Not to sound creepy, but they know your anatomy! A thorough evaluation examining your posture, movement patterns and muscle/joint limitations will reveal the source of your injury and allow your physical therapist to prescribe introductory treatments specific to your needs – all within your initial appointment!
BONUS: WITH DIRECT ACCESS MOST PEOPLE CAN VISIT A PHYSICAL THERAPIST WITHOUT SEEING THEIR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN BEFOREHAND, ALLOWING RECOVERY TO BEGIN SOONER (CHECK WITH YOUR INSURANCE).
Hold on, it gets better! As you improve, therapy advances to consider your work demands, daily living requirements and recreational stresses. To prevent new injuries and ensure continued success, your physical therapist will review and educate you on the following important cues for work and home:
- Proper positioning when lifting and carrying heavy objects
- Significance of breaking up tasks with stretches or simple activities
- Correct ergonomics when sitting at a work station
- Importance of a regular fitness program
Why would you not take advantage of this? Well, unfortunately there are many misconceptions surrounding low back pain, and therefore, one third of Americans do not seek professional assistance. Many people believe one of the following ideas:
- The pain will go away on its own
- Only surgery will help
- Nothing can be done – you must live with the pain
All three are (usually) false! With simple, specific stretches, soft tissue mobilization and therapeutic exercises, most low back pain can be diminished or resolved within a couple treatments. So, what are you waiting for? Call or visit our website to schedule an evaluation at one of our four SportsCare locations!