Back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is the most common reason people often visit their physicians. It can be caused due to various injuries and conditions that affect the spine and cause limitations. In some cases, the pain may radiate down the leg and worsen with certain activities.
It is not necessary to rely on addictive medications and invasive surgeries that might lead to infections. Physical therapy is an effective treatment that helps strengthen the back and core muscles and relieve pain through specific exercises and pain-relieving modalities.
This article speaks about the various conditions that lead to back pain and how physical therapy plays a vital role in relieving pain and promoting recovery.
1) Muscle Strain
Back pain can often occur due to strains when the muscles and ligaments that support the spine are overstretched, resulting in tears. This led to weakened muscles and reduced support to the spine, thus causing back pain. It causes pain and stiffness in the back that worsens when stretching. Strains can result from repetitive bending, falling, or lifting heavy objects.
Physical therapists suggest stretching exercises to reduce tension and enhance support to the spine. Stretching the back muscles can increase flexibility to the spine and reduce the possibilities of muscle strain, promoting back pain relief, Jefferson, NC.
They also recommend strengthening exercises to improve strength in the lower back and core muscles. Low-impact aerobic exercises such as walking, cycling, and swimming can enhance oxygen and nutrients to the strained muscles and promote healing.
2) Herniated Disc
A herniated disc, also known as slipped disc, occurs when the inner material of the disc leaks through the outer ring and compresses the spinal nerves. This leads to pain, numbness, weakness in the back and leg, and increased pain when coughing or sneezing. The condition occurs due to age-related wear and tear of the disc or lifting heavy objects.
Physical therapists help reduce pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms through heat or cold therapy, electrical stimulation, and deep tissue massage. They suggest core stability exercises that can strengthen the back muscles and increase support to the spine and aerobic exercises to enhance muscle flexibility. Hydrotherapy also plays a vital role in relieving pressure off the back and minimizing pain.
3) Sciatica
Sciatica is the irritation of the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body that originates in the lower back and runs through the hips, buttocks, legs, and feet on both sides. The condition can be caused due to herniated disc, spinal stenosis, pregnancy, or muscle spasms in the back. Sciatica causes burning or shooting pain down the leg, hip pain, and weakness or numbness in the foot.
Physical therapists utilize joint manipulation techniques to promote back pain relief, Jefferson, NC and restore normal movement. They also perform the dry needling technique to target the trigger point in the muscles and relieve pain. Other treatments include myofascial release therapy and soft tissue mobilization to decrease muscle tension.
Therapeutic stretches and strengthening exercises can help improve flexibility and muscle strength and condition the core muscles and spine. Apart from these, physical therapists educate their patients on correct posture and proper ergonomics to promote back pain relief, Jefferson, NC.
4) Arthritis
Arthritis in the back is the inflammation of the joints in the spine caused due to wear and tear of the joint cartilage or infection. It mainly affects the lower back and leads to stiffness, pain, and weakness. When the condition worsens, it can cause burning pain down the leg. Arthritis in the back can result from being overweight or doing repetitive stress on certain joints.
Physical therapy can help with this condition effectively and improve the patients’ quality of life. It includes strengthening exercises to stabilize the muscles that support the spine, range of motion exercises to improve flexibility and aerobic exercises that enhance blood circulation and minimize pain. Other treatments like massage therapy, heat or cold method, and electrical stimulation help relieve muscle spasms and promote back pain relief, Jefferson, NC.
5) Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spaces within the spine narrow, adding extra pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine. It occurs due to age-related wear and tears in the spine, herniated discs, spinal injuries, or thickened ligaments. It causes pain in the back, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the foot or leg.
Stretching and strengthening exercises can reduce stress on the joints and improve muscle strength. Physical therapists suggest aerobic exercises that increase blood circulation to the spine and promote good physical conditioning. Other treatments include manual therapy to improve range of motion and heat or cold therapy to relieve pain and muscle spasms.
