Lower Back Pain

Back Pain Therapy

For many sufferers, back pain stems from a lifestyle dominated by sitting too much. Gravity compresses the spine where nerve endings get compromised. Sitting most of the day — during your commute, at your desk at work and even when you get home — compounds the damage caused by gravity. Sitting simply puts more stress on the muscles and discs in your back.

Slouching stretches your spinal ligaments, which increases the strain on your spinal discs. But there are many other reasons for your back pain, including:

A herniated disk. A herniation is when a vertebral disc ruptures. It’s a common sport or work-related injury. It’s painful and requires surgery to repair.
Kidney infection. Your kidneys are located in your lower back. The pain from an infection emanates from that location.
Obesity. The added weight pulls your pelvis forward. The extra weight causes an anterior pelvic tilt. This unnatural curving of the spine can lead to a host of issues.
Poor posture. Constant slouching can cause the same damage as being overweight.
Pregnancy. The extra weight of your baby puts stress on your spine. Unless you find a new balance and stretch, you’ll end up in pain.
Sciatica. Your sciatic nerve travels from your lower back, through your hips and buttocks, down each leg. A compromised sciatic nerve causes pain.
Ankylosing spondylitis. This is the inflammation of the vertebrae in your spine. Over time, this disease causes the vertebrae in your spine to fuse together.
Endometriosis. This ailment occurs in women. It is when the uterine tissue attaches to other organs in their body. Endometrial cells can stick to your lower back and cause back pain.
Fibromyalgia. This disorder causes widespread musculoskeletal pain. Women are more prone to develop fibromyalgia than men.
Spinal stenosis. When the space within your spine narrows, it puts pressure on the nerves that travel through your spine, causing pain.

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HOW CAN PHYSICAL THERAPY EASE MY BACK PAIN?

Whether you’re trying to avoid surgery for your back pain or looking to recover after an operation, physical therapy in New York City at your therapy practice is a recommended treatment option. The goal of physical therapy is to decrease your pain, increase your range of motion and inform you about the causes of pain to prevent them from happening again. Countering years of bad habits takes a comprehensive, individualized care plan, which physical therapy offers.

Your physical therapist takes measurements of your range of motion and determines what movements cause pain. While these initial tests may be painful, they’re beneficial in the long run. They point to what exercises you’re able to do and what type of treatments you need.

As you regain your strength, you may get different exercises and treatments. It’s a process. As your pain decreases and you feel better, you’re given additional, slightly more difficult exercises to do as part of your rehabilitation plan.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF TREATMENTS FOR BACK PAIN?

Physical therapy is much more than exercises for back pain. It’s also much more than chiropractic adjustment or massage. While physical therapy back exercises — including hip circles, knees to chest, windshield wipers, bodyweight squats and walking — help you strengthen your back and teach you proper form, your Brooklyn physical therapist supplements your program with other pain-relieving options, such as:

Spinal decompression. Decompression separates the bones, joints, and discs in your back. You’re put into a traction device that stretches you with an appropriate amount of resistance.
Spinal and joint manipulation. For this type of orthopedic manipulation, your physical therapist mobilizes your joints. We choose the degree necessary for your relief. During this process, you may hear a sound from your bones as they’re manipulated. It’s a welcome sound that signals a decrease in pain.
Laser therapy. Your physical therapist uses a handheld laser device to treat your back pain. It’s effective for injured muscles or bones.