Back Pain
Whether you injured your back in a sports related activity, picked something up that was too heavy, or had a fall. Back pain can have a serious impact on your ability to complete your day to day activities normally. We want you to know that you are not alone during this injury! Over 80% of Americans experience back pain for different reasons. Listed below are some common reasons for back pain. Having an experienced physical therapist diagnose and treat your back pain can save you unnecessary pain medication, spinal injections, surgeries, and expensive imaging. Check out the list below to see commonly treated back pain diagnoses with physical therapy.
Common Causes of Back Pain
Degenerative Disc Disease
Sounds like a scary diagnosis when you read it, but it is part of the normal process in an aging spine. The older you get the higher your chances for (DDD). As the discs age they tend to lose the amount of water content in them. The discs dry up making them more susceptible to injury.
Herniated or Bulging Disc
A bulging or herniated disc can happen in any age group. This is usually a result of a combined bending/twisting motion. The discs are made of thick connective tissue material but can be injured with enough force. Motor vehicle accidents, falls, lifting weights, and prolonged sitting can all weaken the discs resulting in a "bulge".
Back strain
One of the most common spinal injuries is a strain or sprain. A back strain can include muscle, tendon, or ligament tissue. All of these can be very pain sensitive in injured. This can severely limit your ability to walk and move around the home.
How Will Physical Therapy Help My Back Pain?
Once the physical therapist determines the cause for your back pain then a specialized treatment plan will be developed. The physical therapist will use various manual techniques including spinal manipulations and therapeutic exercises to improve your pain and function. Once your pain is controlled and your range of motion is restored then your therapist can begin helping you strengthen the area that was damaged.