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Everyone talks about back pain. Is it normal?

80% of Americans will experience an episode of low back pain in their lifetime and 1 in 4 people are experiencing back pain right now. Although back pain is most commonly experienced in aging, other factors can contribute to or aggravate it, like sitting too much, poor physical condition, or improper bending and lifting. 

We've got your back: Seeing a Physical Therapist for Back Pain

Physical Therapists are Movement Experts

When you’re experiencing decreased range of motion, difficulty sitting or standing up straight, muscle spasms, stiffness, you’ll want to go to someone who knows why back pain is happening and how you can get better. Physical therapists are experts in movement, which means they understand how the different systems in the body work together to get your body moving. Through hands-on care, education, and prescribed movement, a physical therapist improves quality of life for patients. Treatment always includes education on how to avoid back pain in the future and identifying need for other services if risk factors are present.

Avoid Opioids and Imaging

For most cases, it’s best to avoid the use of opioids and strong pain medications. Opioids don’t fix the root cause of your back pain - they simply block the brain’s pain receptors to mask the pain. Given the high risk of addiction, depression, and overdose, conservative treatments like physical therapy are the safest option to recover from back pain. Medical guidelines also strongly discourage the use of MRIs and X-rays in diagnosing back pain because they produce so many false alarms and create unnecessary spending.

Acute or chronic strains
Muscle Spasms
Sciatica
Stenosis
Degeneration
Prolapsed and herniated intervertebral discs
Sacroiliac joint pain
Piriformis syndrome
Back pain associated with pregnancy
Repetitive strain injuries
Post-surgical recovery

Manual Therapy

To restore motion and function

Manipulation

To improve movement and relieve pain

Prescribed Exercises

To strengthen muscles and decrease risk of future pain.

Dry Needling

To treat knots in muscles that lead to pain and soreness

Questions about Back Pain? We’ve got answers.

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Should I rest if I have back pain?

There’s a widely known misconception that rest can heal your back pain. However, bed rest can actually make it worse! It’s recommended that you exercise and get active and mobile as soon as possible. Many people also think that the worse the pain is, the more serious an injury, but the good news is that less than 1% of all back pain is due to a serious condition. In most cases, back pain will resolve with conservative treatments like physical therapy. Also, starting physical therapy at the onset of pain can help you prevent chronic pain.

When should I see a physical therapist for back pain?

If you’re experiencing back pain that isn’t getting any better and it’s limiting your activities, a physical therapist can help you recover so you can get back to what you love to do without pain or limitation. Request an appointment with a physical therapist so you can feel better, move freely, and live fully.

FIND A HIGHBAR PRACTICE

Get back to what you love,
and do it even better.