Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy For Back Pain

Physical therapy is commonly prescribed for patients with back pain, but there are many different treatments that are included in physical therapy. It is important to be sure that the right treatment is employed at the right time for a given patient.

In the beginning stages of treatment for back pain and injury, the primary problems tend to be inflammation, muscle spasm, and reduced mobility. The first step in treatment should be directed at reducing inflammation and spasm. Proceeding too quickly to treatments that increase mobility and/or are intended to increase muscle strength and endurance can often drastically increase inflammation and spasm and can greatly delay recovery.

Treatments such as electrical stimulation and cold packs are often the first measures used to begin to control inflammation and spasm. Although many back pain patients are using medication to reduce inflammation, these therapies can be much more effective. Cold packs can be used at home to supplement in-office treatment and their frequent application is the most effective anti-inflammatory treatment a patient can do at home. At the peak of inflammatory symptoms, using a cold pack for 10 to 15 minutes at a time as often as once every couple of hours will often decreased inflammation faster than even the best anti-inflammatory medication.

Once symptoms have decreased and the inflammation and spasm have subsided, treatments like massage and ultrasound may be helpful in alleviating soft tissue contraction and in improving circulation to damaged tissue to help with healing. At this stage, the severe pain is gone and the patient is primarily experiencing soreness and stiffness.

As the soreness improves, stretching and mobilization can be gradually introduced to improve flexibility and mobility. It is important to get the patient as close as possible to normal mobility before transitioning to strengthening exercises in order to prevent reinforcing abnormal movement patterns.

Muscular strengthening and postural correction exercises can be introduced once mobility has returned to normal. In the case of back pain and injuries, poor posture and lack of muscle conditioning often contributed to the original injury or pain. It is especially important to re-condition the abdominal muscles and the muscles along the back of the spine to provide their normal postural support.

Because it is necessary for the patient to continue the exercises on their own after being released from the physical therapist's care in order to maintain the benefits, it is important that the therapist include exercises that do not require special equipment. High-tech back rehab machines are excellent for getting patients back to health, but they should not be the sole source of the patient's rehabilitative exercise.

With proper treatment and direction from a skilled physical therapist, most back pain patients can resolve their conditions and can prevent them from returning through appropriate ongoing self-care measures prescribed by the therapist.

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