Back pain can happen from injuries like car accidents, degenerative conditions like arthritis, pinched nerves, tight muscles due to stress, and from poor posture. The parts that usually get hurt are muscles, nerves, joints, or discs found in the back. There are many reasons for back pain like:
- Bending, twisting and lifting
- Awkward postures and movements
- Poor spinal alignment
- Weak core muscles
- Poor flexibility
How can My PT help my back pain?
Custom Physical Therapy can help back pain. An evaluation is performed first to find out why the back hurts. This will include assessing posture, range of motion, muscle strength, lumbar spine joint mobility, special tests, reflex testing, sensation testing, and palpation.
Next, a treatment plan is recommended. This can include therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, and the use of therapeutic modalities. Clients are asked to return for follow up visits to assess response to treatment so there is a natural progression of treatment.
Treatment plans could range from 1-3 visits per week. Treatment could continue for several weeks, depending on the severity of the problem. Because the body is dynamic and different events in life can affect progress, on going maintenance treatment can be very effective at controlling symptoms from worsening or returning.
What back conditions does My PT treat?
- Mechanical Back Pain
- Degenerative Joint and Disc Disease
- Spinal Stenosis
- Muscle Spasms
- Trigger Points
- Herniated Discs
- Sciatica
- Radiculitis/Radiculopathy
- Hypermobility
- Upper Cross Syndrome
- Lower Cross Syndrome
- Stuck Ribs and Joints
What other symptoms happen to the back?
The symptoms of a back problem can vary depending on what part is affected. Pain can be described in many ways which makes it unique to the individual describing their experience. Symptoms might be sharp, dull, achy, piercing, burning, stabbing, throbbing, annoying or distracting. It can also include:
- Discomfort
- Pressure
- Tightness
- Stiffness
- Backaches
- Squeezing
- Back muscle fatigue
- Pain at rest
- Weakness in the core, legs, or feet
- Difficulty with balance or walking
- Pain with movement
- Difficulty twisting the back, bending over, or rolling in bed
- Numbness or tingling into back, hips, legs, or feet