Back pain is one of the most common health conditions in the world, and it also costs companies billions of dollars every year as employees seek treatment or compensation for their back problems. It’s also not fun to live with from a personal standpoint, because with back pain, simple actions like walking, sitting or laying down can all cause a flare up. However, back conditions tend to be some of the most treatable types of injuries, and physical therapy is usually the recommended form of treatment. In today’s blog, we take a look at five types of spine problems that tend to respond well to physical therapy.
Treating Back Injuries With PT
If you’ve been diagnosed with any of these five conditions, consider syncing up with a physical therapist to develop a treatment plan.
- Herniated Disc – Spinal discs help our back move and twist, but if they wear down over the years, these discs can herniate and compress nearby nerves. A physical therapy plan that involves strength training exercises and posture corrections can help address the herniated disc and prevent the need for surgery.
- Spinal Stenosis – Spinal stenosis involves the narrowing of your spinal canal, which can lead to the compression of critical spinal structures. Limiting movement can help prevent symptoms, but that can lead to eventual muscle weakness and more spine problems. Instead, diving head first into a physical therapy plan can help your spine remain strong and flexible.
- Whiplash – Whiplash injuries occur when your head is thrust violently in one direction, and it’s common in car accidents and athletic activity. This can lead to soft tissue damage and other problems in your cervical spine that can inhibit normal range of motion. When function and flexibility are affected, physical therapy is almost always the first line of treatment.
- Curvature Disorders – At OrthoRehab Specialists, we treat a number of different spinal curvature disorders. Whether you’re dealing with kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis or flat back, a consultation with a physical therapist is likely in your future. Physical therapy for curvature disorders works on two fronts. First, it will help to calm symptoms of pain and discomfort, and second, it will work to prevent a continuation of the curvature that is causing problems. It may also be ordered after surgery to help strengthen key areas near the surgical site.
- Sciatica – Your sciatica nerve runs from the lower part of your back and down each leg, and if an impingement occurs anywhere along the way, back pain can become a constant issue. Therapy and stretching exercises are two ways to help calm inflammation that may be causing your compression. Working with a physical therapist is key to correcting your sciatica because treatment needs to target the precise area of compression, and sciatic nerve impingement can lead to symptoms in your back, buttocks or legs, so a PT can make sure you’re focused on the right area even if symptoms suggest the problem is housed elsewhere.
If you are dealing with any of the above conditions, or you need help with another spinal issue, reach out to the experienced medical team at OrthoRehab Specialists today.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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