You’ve Pulled Your Back, Now What?
Something didn’t feel quite right. You were shoveling snow or helping a friend move a heavy couch, and there it went. Your lower back tightens up or seizes up on you. It was hard to move normally, and your back just felt “off.” You “pulled” your back; now what? Let’s first take a brief look at the anatomy of the lower back, then a couple of lower back injuries, followed by what to do next.
How Much Do You Know About Back Pain?
Many people throughout their lives have encountered back pain. In fact, as many as two-thirds of adults will be affected by back pain at some point in their lives. Anyone that has had to deal with back pain knows how difficult it can be. However, back pain comes with difficulty in determining what treatment options are best, what will happen if I can’t work, and what can I do to make sure this back pain doesn’t happen again.
Can PT Solve My Chronic Back Pain?
Chronic low back pain is extremely prevalent and the leading cause of disability in industrialized countries. Chronic low back pain is defined as pain lasting more than three months. 10-20% of those who experience low back pain develop chronic low back pain, and there are numerous reasons for this. Many commonly prescribed treatments such as supportive back braces, electrical stimulation, acupuncture, injections, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications only provide short-term relief. They have no evidence to support their use for long-term management.
Treating Your Back Pain Forever
In our modern day world where we find ourselves increasingly commuting longer distances by car to spend days rooted to a desk or computer, followed by a return commute, afternoon driving kids to practices and attending meetings, and an evening on the couch in the company of televisions, tablets, and smartphones, it is not a mystery why our backs may feel tight. And, more importantly, why the best treatment may not be stretching.
Physical Therapy for Low Back Pain: Effective Treatment and Lower Costs
Have you ever had low back pain? Chances are you have had an experience in the past or are having one as you read this. Low back pain is experienced by approximately 70 percent of individuals in their lifetime.1 In fact, 1 in every 17 visits to a primary care physician is related to reports of low back pain.2 Combined, direct and indirect costs for low back pain are reported to be between 85 and 238 billion dollars, with costs continuing to rise.3
