Got low back pain? Then get a therapy referral!
Physical therapy is a leading profession involved in the diagnosis and treatment of low back pain. One of the most common reasons people come to work with a physical therapist is low back pain. Researchers in our field have even developed comprehensive practice guidelines to help therapists manage this condition in their patients.
Keep reading to learn how therapy can help you find meaningful relief from your lower back pain!
1. Many known risk factors for low back pain are preventable—a physical therapist can help you modify these.
Low back pain is so common that most people will have it at least once in a lifetime. It’s not always clear what triggers back pain in the first place. Most experts agree that there are usually multiple issues at play, including activity level, occupation, age, family, and medical history. The presence of other health conditions like smoking, obesity, and diabetes can also contribute.
A physical therapist can work with you to help you identify and modify your preventable risk factors. For example, sitting too much is correlated with lower back pain. A physical therapist helps you control your pain and improve your physical function and ergonomic environments. This makes it easier for you to increase your activity level and minimize the amount of time you spend sitting.
2. A therapist can design customized treatment plans that can relieve and resolve your condition.
Based on the current clinical practice guidelines created by the American Physical Therapy Association’s Orthopaedic Section, a person presenting with low back pain can be classified into one of several distinct treatment categories, based on a thorough examination. This type of systematic categorization is cost-effective and beneficial, since it helps patients receive services specifically designed for their needs.
Thanks to their extensive training, a therapist can skillfully tease out hidden issues contributing to your back pain condition. Some examples are nerve impingement, movement incoordination, poor core muscle activation, and range of motion limitations. Other professionals often overlook these issues. This explains why interventions that just provide symptom relief are often not effective in the long-term.
Underlying issues recur when they aren’t addressed! By addressing the underlying causes of your back pain and then systematically managing these issues with personalized treatment based on research, a therapist can alleviate your symptoms and reduce your likelihood of chronic suffering.
3. Treatments provided by a therapist are drug-free, non-invasive, and safe for all ages.
The risk for low back pain tends to increase with age, but people of all ages can struggle with this broad condition. Therapy services that are effective for low back pain—including corrective exercises and spinal manipulation—are safe and appropriate for folks from all walks of life. Your therapist can deliver plenty of other treatments if a specific service is too intense for you.
Lastly, therapists are experts at identifying how low back pain limits a person’s participation in daily activities, and how these limitations can be resolved or compensated for. After all, your progress outside the clinic matters even more than your progress inside the clinic! We look for the bigger picture of your condition and will help you modify your life in a way that will make you feel successful.
