What is Physical Therapy for Lower Back Pain?
Lower back pain is one of the most common complaints that a pain management specialist gets to hear about. It varies in intensity and its recurrence usually increases with age. Only a proper diagnosis can determine if the condition is acute or chronic. In most cases, a patient who continues to endure lower back pain for days together is strongly advised to undergo physical therapy.
Cause of Lower Back Pain and Evaluation
Understanding the cause of pain can alone help a physician determine the proper course of treatment. Some medical conditions that are known to cause mild to excruciating lower back pain are:
- Muscle Strain
- Ligament Sprain
- Osteoporosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Herniated Disc
- Arthritis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Gait Deviation
Proper diagnosis with the aid of diagnostic modalities would reveal various details of the patient’s condition. It would show how pain has affected gait, posture, sitting and standing tolerance, flexibility and muscle strength.
Physical Therapy – Benefits for Lower Back Pain
Physical therapy is a non-invasive treatment for lower back pain management. Its goal is to increase the level of body function and improve the overall quality of life. To ensure this, the patient along with a physiotherapist would map out a program of activities that are designed to address each of the problems caused by pain.
Physical Therapy Treatment Techniques
Physical therapy generally involves stretching, strengthening and exercising the back in a safe and gentle manner. Some of the other back pain treatment techniques are:
- Spine Stabilization and Strength Training
- Low Impact Aerobic Exercises
- Standing Hamstring Stretch
- Pelvic Tilt
- Partial Curl
- Extension Exercise
- Piriformis Stretch
- Pilates Exercise
- Deep Muscles Retraining
The positive benefits of physical therapy exercise not only affect strength and flexibility but also alter and improve patient’s attitude toward his disability and pain. Some of the therapeutic exercises are quite effective when combined with psychological and motivational programs such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. The success of physical therapy can be noticed in the improvement of the patient’s daily activities.
Therapeutic Sessions Coupled with Education
There is no guarantee that lower back pain would not recur in the future after physical therapy. Therefore, it is important that the patient learns how to manage pain during counseling sessions. Apart from understanding the need for lifestyle modification and ways to minimize the recurrence of pain, they would also learn various ways to cope with pain. The physiotherapist would also advise on proper ergonomics for home and work.
Quick Return to Active Lifestyle
Physical therapy is compulsory for relieving lower back pain as it offers complete rehabilitation and full restoration of mobility. Working with a licensed therapist in a professional pain management center that adopts a multidisciplinary approach would ensure proper treatment.
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