Back pain is one of the most prevalent pain causes that affect people of all ages worldwide. Nearly 60-80% of individuals globally experience lower back pain at least once in their lifetime.

In the majority of cases, back pain is temporary and heals naturally within a month. However, if the symptoms are recurring or linger for more than four weeks, the condition can be termed chronic. Chronic back pain is a severe condition that can lead to several problems like joint stiffness, reduced mobility, and inability to perform daily activities comfortably.

It is essential to address chronic pain as soon as possible and consult a professional doctor. Physical therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat chronic conditions. If you are experiencing chronic pain symptoms, you should consult a PT for evaluation and treatment plans for lower back pain relief in San Pedro. 

Below, we help you understand the causes behind your symptoms and determine how physical therapy will benefit your recovery. 

Let us first look at the common issues that lead to chronic back pain.

Common Causes of Chronic Back Pain

Generally, chronic back pain is an age-related condition, but it can also result from an injury. The most common causes for that include:

• Spine Arthritis
• Spinal Stenosis
• Herniated disc or other disc-related problems. 
• Myofascial pain syndrome. 
• Sciatic nerve compression.

When suffering from back pain, it is advised not to panic and undergo any medical procedure without determining the root cause of your pain. These procedures are not only unnecessary but can also worsen your symptoms. 

After exhausting all possible causes, if your doctor cannot determine the cause of your pain, the best option is to work with an experienced physical therapist to manage the symptoms and minimize the disabilities effectively. 

How To Diagnose Chronic Back Pain?

For diagnosing the cause and severity of your chronic lower back pain, a physical therapist will perform the following steps –

• Review your health history.
• Ask you about your symptoms – what makes the pain worse or what relieves it temporarily. 
• Perform a physical evaluation for determining your movements and their behavior. 

• Image Tests to identify signs or symptoms that point towards severe issues like cancer or broken bones. 

How Is Physical Therapy Helpful In Treating Chronic Back Pain?

All back pains are different, and the course of physical therapy and other treatments vary from patient to patient. In most cases, a physical therapist can help you relieve pain, restore function and assist you in adapting to pain with natural and non-invasive treatments. 

Here are some of the most prominent benefits of physical therapy for back pain- 

Personalized Care.

One of the most significant advantages of physical therapy is that your doctor won’t rely on a ‘one-size-fits-all’ recovery plan. They will evaluate your symptoms as mentioned above and then formulate an individualized recovery and care plan catered to your medical condition. 

This plan will be created after considering your lifestyle, age, muscle endurance, and dietary habits.  

Decreased pain

During physical therapy, your gait (the way you walk/run) and how you get up from a seated and lying down posture will be examined thoroughly. 

This enables your doctor to provide exercises that will reduce pain caused directly by your motions. The therapist may also use electrical stimulation to help restore function.

Restored Mobility

One of the essential aspects of lower back pain impacts your overall mobility and makes even the simplest movements painful. A physical therapist will help relieve joint stiffness and strengthen the weak muscles, ultimately improving your mobility.  

Minimizing The Need For Surgery 

Surgical treatments should always be considered as a last resort. A comprehensive physical therapy program is one of the most reliable approaches to prevent surgery by resolving back pain symptoms with non-invasive treatment modalities. 

Prevention Of Further Damage

Along with improving your current physical state, physical therapists also minimize further damage to the surrounding areas of a damaged muscle/tissue. 

They will consider your job and daily movements and suggest precautions to avoid injury or straining of specific muscles. 

Reduced Risk Of Falls

Two of the most common symptoms of chronic pain are impaired mobility and lack of coordination. These problems often lead to falls and accidents. A physical therapist will help you improve your balance and coordination, consequently reducing the chances of falls and injuries. 

A Physical Therapy Treatments Generally Includes The Following Treatment Modalities:

• Manual therapy-  to improve the mobility of joints and soft tissues.
• Specific flexibility & strengthening exercises.
• Education about how you perform daily activities while caring for your back.
• Ultrasound Therapy
• Electrical Stimulation
• Fall Prevention & Gait improvement. 

Concluding Thoughts!

We hope that you find this article on ‘treating back pain with physical therapy’ informative.

Rely only on a  professional for finding lower back pain relief in San Pedro. If you are suffering from symptoms of lower back pain, contact your nearest physical therapy clinic today.