Without Intervention, Your Lower Back Pain Could Be Here to Stay

Ask any physical therapist, and you’ll get confirmation that lower back pain is the most frequent complaint they’re asked to treat. Sometimes back pain goes away on its own, but when rest and ice just can’t cut the pain, physical therapy is often your most reliable path back to a pain-free life.

Where Does LBP Come From — and What Can Prevent it?

Incorrect posture and body mechanics are the most common causes of lower back pain (LBP). Often work environments and office desk setups don’t provide ideal ergonomic positioning or lumbar support.

Non-desk jobs have their own perils. Standing all day, especially when combined with heavy lifting or frequent bending, can result in poor spinal health.

In either case, maintaining a neutral posture with good body mechanics is key to reducing the risk of chronic lower back pain. Insist on an ergonomic desk chair, or at least take the opportunity to stretch and move around more frequently. If you’re a cashier, wait staff or warehouse worker, invest in shoes with good arch support, which helps keep your entire body better aligned.

How Physical Therapy Can Help

Physical therapy is one of the most effective ways for easing lower back pain. Medical professionals generally urge their patients to try PT before turning to prescription medications or surgery. The reasons are obvious: Some medications can have long-term health consequences, despite the advantages of delivering temporary pain relief, while invasive procedures carry risk of complication and prolonged recovery time.

PT to address lower back pain may involve the use of modalities, manual therapy, and active physical therapy.

• Passive PT may include the application of various modalities: specialized ice packs, heating pads, or e-stim equipment (which stimulate nerves and release pain). Manual therapy includes special techniques performed by the skilled physical therapist.
• Lastly, active PT involves the patient performing stretches and exercises that build the kind of flexibility and strength needed to reduce current pain and prevent future flare-ups. Some of these are done under a physical therapist’s supervision, on specialized equipment, while others can be carried out at home after the patient learns the basics.

Call Rehability Physical Therapy today and speak to our experts!