Without Strong Ligaments Physical Therapy Cannot Work
The entire content of this article is nicely summed up in these few words. insufficient stability to permit effective muscle recruiting strategies. Without the ligaments, physical therapy cannot work.
The next bullet point, from the same research, gives the solution:
- Experimental studies have found Prolotherapy effective in stimulating the production of collagen fibers, thus strengthening ligaments.
In a separate study we published in the Journal of Prolotherapy, we published these findings:
- We looked at 145 patients, who had been in pain an average of four years and ten months, and were treated quarterly with dextrose Prolotherapy.
- This included a subset of 55 patients who were told by their medical doctor that there were no other treatment options for their pain and a subset of 26 patients who were told by their doctor that surgery was their only option.
- Patients contacted an average of 12 months following their last Prolotherapy session and asked questions regarding their levels of pain, physical and psychological symptoms, and activities of daily living, before and after their last Prolotherapy treatment.
Results:
- In these 145 low backs, 89% experienced more than 50% pain relief with Prolotherapy
- more than 80% showed improvements in walking and exercise ability, anxiety, depression, and overall disability
- 75% percent were able to completely stop taking pain medications.
These patients were treated every three months on average.
Posture And Lifestyle Modifications For Sciatica
In addition to physical therapy and exercise, committing to correct and ergonomically supported posture while sitting, standing, and walking is essential in treating and preventing sciatica. Daily routines, such as following ergonomically safe lifting techniques and using good sleep postures are also important to follow.
The Most Common Causes Of Lower Back Pain
Mechanical back pain and lower back pain are most commonly related to some activity or lack of it as well as specific health conditions. A doctor or physical therapist can identify the cause after a checkup and some tests. After that, you will be prescribed physical therapy for back pain or physical therapy for lower back pain, as well as other treatments.
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Low Back Pain Clinical Guidelines
Guidelines recommend the non-pharmacological and non-invasive management . These include the provision of advice to stay active and the use of patient education and exercise therapy . Guidelines regularly recommend the use of physical exercise for non-specific LBP . Guidelines endorse the cautious use of imaging, of medication, and of surgery . A risk stratification tool is recommended in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines , so that treatments can be co-ordinated to each risk subgroup .
Patients with low back pain can be triaged using a clinical assessment . This should include history-taking, physical examination, and neurological tests to recognize radicular features . With low back pain, patients should be screened for red flags to exclude serious pathologies, and diagnostic tests carried out if suspected .
Psychosocial risk factors should be assessed to predict poorer outcomes . There can be mutual decisions made with the patient as to whether simpler and less-intensive management is called for. If there is no improvement after 4 weeks, and a serious pathology or radiculopathy is suspected, then specialist consultation is recommended .
How Physical Therapy Can Help Chronic Low Back Pain
A physical therapist uses both passive and active methods to alleviate chronic low back pain. Passive treatments include ultrasound, electric stimulation, massage and hot and cold therapy. Active treatments include stretching and specific exercises.
our office to set up an appointment with one of our physical therapists if youre suffering from chronic low back pain. Weve helped many others alleviate their pain and can help you, too.
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The Source Of The Pain
Why are so many Americans experiencing lower back pain? The reasons range from a new sedentary lifestyle to even sports overexertion. Sofa sitting, movie binge watching, working from home at a non-ergonomic desk, weekend yard work, hobbies, and sports. Here are just a few sources for lower back pain provided by The Therapy Network patients:
- I sit at my home work desk for a prolonged period.
- I have suffered from sciatica for years with little relief from the pain.
- I may have pulled a muscle in my back playing on the company softball team.
- I have experienced lower back pain since I slipped and fell at work.
Theres no wonder that lower back pain is a top reason why patients visit their primary care physician and enroll in physical therapy. 80% of us will experience lower back pain at some point.
Benefits Of Physical Therapy For Back Pain
Nothing reminds you of your age like an achy back. All of a sudden, even restful activities, such as sleeping or hanging out on your couch can feel uncomfortable. Youve tried everything: more pillows, a new mattress, switching sleeping positions. So what do you do if, despite all these modifications, your back is still in pain?
The first thing to recognize is that youre not alone. Back pain is one of the most common reasons why people go to the doctor.
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Results Arent As Noticeable As You Expected
You may think PT isnt working for you if youre going by the results you think you should be seeing. While some people respond quickly to weight training and muscle strengthening exercises, there is no standard timeline that applies to everyone. If youre in doubt that youre seeing results, keep a journal and track your personal progress between sessions or workouts. You may be surprised to see that youre actually making small improvements. Factors to consider include:
- Overall pain level
Physical Therapy Should Never Cause True Pain
However, physical therapy should never cross over from discomfort and soreness into true pain. The point at which you begin to experience real pain is the point at which you should stop your PT regimen and consult with your therapist. Your regimen may require modification in order to achieve your goals without creating pain or causing further damage.
Here are the primary reasons you should be concerned with your experience after physical therapy:
- Existing pain increases instead of decreases over time.
- You experience new pain.
- You begin to lose range of motion.
- Your physical therapy is treating the symptoms of your problem instead of the cause.
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Physical Therapy To Relieve Upper Back Pain
Many cases of upper back pain are caused by muscle strain, particularly from poor posture. Going to physical therapy can help you address the underlying causes of your pain a physical therapist will work with you to restore full, pain-free movement and help your body heal. You can also learn about how to minimize or avoid pain in the future.
It can be difficult to “un-learn” years of bad posture, but a physical therapist can work with you.
Most importantly for many upper back pain sufferers, a physical therapist can teach you good posture, if you need to learn that. It can be difficult to “un-learn” years of bad posture, but a physical therapist can work with you to learn what good posture feels like and how to maintain it throughout the day.
Physical therapy includes both passive and active treatments. Passive treatments help to relax you and your body. They’re called passive because you don’t have to actively participate. Your physical therapy program may start with passive treatments as your body heals, but the goal is to get into active treatments. These are therapeutic exercises that strengthen your body and help prevent a recurrence of upper back pain.
Passive TreatmentsYour physical therapist may give you passive treatments.
Related
Physical Therapy For Lower Back Pain
Physical therapy for back pain and lower back pain is one of the most effective ways to approach the treatment. It can help relieve pain and restore or improve mobility.
Besides being effective, physical therapy can help avoid expensive surgery and medications that carry their risks and side effects.
After a thorough examination, your physical therapist will develop a personalized treatment plan to address your particular needs and facilitate your recovery. The treatment will be selected based on your specific symptoms and condition.
Physical therapy can make an overall positive impact on your life by not only decreasing pain or increasing function but also allowing you to get back to regular activities and enjoy life to its fullest.
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Pilates Works When There Are Strong Ligaments Pilates Will Not Help When Ligament Instability Prevents Muscles From Getting Needed Resistance
Pilates is an exercise program that concentrates on the deep stabilizer muscles of the core. Pilates, like physical therapy, like core stabilizing exercises, can only work when the ligaments of the spine can support the exercise activity and provide resistance so the muscles strengthen.
It is very rare to see research that says one form of exercise works and another does not. They either all work or they all dont work. Studies supporting one form of exercise over another support this idea.
Here is the last paragraph from an August 2017 study in the Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation:
On the basis of the present study it can be concluded that lumbar stabilization exercise, dynamic strengthening exercise, and Pilates are beneficial in the treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain for reduction of pain, improvement in functional ability, increase range of motion and improve core strength.
However, when compared, lumbar stabilization proved to be a more effective form of exercise than Pilates and dynamic strengthening for chronic low back pain.
They all worked. One is a little better than the others in this one group.
Discomfort And Soreness Are Part Of The Healing Process
Man experiencing back pain after therapy
One of the biggest distinctions that physical therapists draw when dealing with your experience of pain after therapy is that between discomfort and actual pain. Discomfort and soreness are to be expected, because physical therapy, in order to work, must train your body.
This is the same principle that applies when building strength through exercising or working out. The muscles must experience a certain amount of stress, which can lead to irritation and soreness.
This stress encourages the muscle to heal and strengthen, and so this soreness can be considered good pain. This is the same type of beneficial discomfort you might experience after a good workout or a new physical activity.
As a result, patients should embrace any soreness after their PT as a sign that their regimen is working.
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If Youre Experiencing Back Pain Let Us Help You
At Spine Works Institute, we take pride in helping patients through safe and natural therapies. We have an entire team of physical therapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, and other healthcare professionals who are ready to assist you.
Call us at to schedule an appointment, or learn more about our practice here.
How Physical Therapy Near Seatac Can Help Chronic Back Pain
Having chronic back pain can make life very difficult. It can significantly limit day-to-day activities, work, and hobbies. And if you have been suffering with pain for a long time, you know how hard it can be to find relief. Physical therapy can help your back pain, but choosing a Doctor of Physical Therapy who uses the right assessments and mix of treatments makes all the difference.
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Yoga Will Provide Benefits From Some Patients
In a commentary to the above study, researchers from the United States Department of Veteran Affairs and from Rutgers University published in the journal Explore August 2017 , their beliefs that yoga will provide benefits for some patients. This is explained in this statement:
Even though the evidence was of moderate to very low certainty , given its relative safety, the trends toward positive results, and the high rates of chronic pain and opioid use, yoga should be considered as a potential approach to include as part of a patients care plan for non-specific chronic low back pain. Similar to non-yoga exercise, yoga helps bring movement into the body. However, yoga also supports the development of body awareness and focus on posture and alignment, as well as assists with physical and mental stress, which may be particularly important in the management of chronic low back pain.
What Happens At Physical Therapy
The first thing the physical therapist will do is an evaluation. Your physical therapist will run diagnostic tests and a physical evaluation to determine the extent of your back pain. Theyll also screen you for more serious health issues that could be causing your pain.
Patients may have physical therapy for back pain two to three times a week for several months. While youre there, the therapist will work with you on stretching and strengthening exercises.
Here are some of the more common treatments:
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Surgery Is Not The Only Option
Even with the facts about lower back pain, you may be procrastinating a visit to your doctor. Many procrastinate out of fear that surgery is the only option. The good news is one can often remedy lower back pain without surgery. To prevent LBP from becoming a disability, it is crucial to seek medical help.
Back pain can interfere with many parts of a persons life, including their ability to get work done. New research finds that people who dont receive the proper treatment miss more work days than those who do.VeryWellHealth
Exercise is a Key Ingredient
As you are suffering from lower back pain, with pain moving from your hips down your legs, the last thing that may be on your mind is an exercise plan. But, exercise is a crucial ingredient in relieving lower back pain. Exercise is one of the key facts about lower back pain.
The remedy to prevent a touchy, irritable back from getting worse? Get up and get moving.Daily Burn
There is no doubt that lower back pain causes both mental stress and physical stress. You may think an exercise program is out of your grasp, and you may even be afraid to start. The truth is that your spine is resilient and ready for movement. Think of the pain in your lower back as a request from your spine and core muscles. It is an invitation to get moving.
Movement and exercise are where physical therapy plays a role in your recovery.
How Can Physical Therapy Treat Back Pain
The structure of the back is made up of muscles, nerves, discs, vertebrae, and joints. All of these structures work in tandem, allowing the back to bend, twist, and stretch. A physical therapist can help you learn how to move your back in ways that will not cause harm, and the PT can also guide you in exercises, stretches, and therapeutic treatments to help your back heal after surgery or an injury.
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Are There Any Side
You may find that certain exercises and movements make your back pain worse. Your physiotherapist should monitor this and show you which exercises to avoid, and which ones will help relieve your pain.
Manual therapies such as manipulation can have side-effects. These usually arent serious and only last for a short time. For instance, you may feel some stiffness or discomfort in the area that was treated. If your home exercises include movements that your muscles are not used to, it can cause your muscles to ache the following day. This can last up to 72 hours after exercising. Its perfectly normal and will lessen as your muscles adapt and strengthen.
Its possible that manipulation could cause a more serious injury, but this is very rare. Your physiotherapist should talk to you about the risks of manual therapies before they carry out any treatment.
Your physiotherapist should also check how youre feeling as they do any hands on therapy and stop if you have any pain or discomfort.
Physical Therapy For Back Pain
Have you wondered if you can find relief for lower back pain through physical therapy? The answer is yes, you can. Physical therapy is a conservative, nonsurgical approach to help you get stronger and healthier, possibly eliminating your back pain altogether. Physical therapy for back pain is a proven, highly effective first-line treatment.
In todays post, well discuss what types of back pain can be treated, what physical therapists do, and how physical therapy can alleviate back pain.
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What Does Physiotherapy After Low Back Surgery Involve
If you undergo surgery on your lower back, physiotherapy can aid your recovery. Surgery can take several months to recover from, and you might experience temporary stiffness, weakness, and swelling after the procedure that physiotherapy can help with.
Many people eventually experience significant benefits from low back surgery, but physiotherapy can help you achieve the best results. Your spine and surrounding muscles are complex there may be weaknesses like muscle loss and joint stiffness that surgery alone cannot fix, and these will need to be addressed post-surgery. Studies following lumbar disk surgery show that physiotherapy patients experience improved spinal function and significantly reduced pain.
You will need to get the go-ahead from your surgeon and/or doctor before setting up an appointment with your physical therapist. The therapist will conduct an initial assessment that involves:
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Reviewing your medical history
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Neurological screening
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Assessing your posture, scar tissue, function, and flexibility
The findings from this evaluation will help the physical therapist come up with a treatment plan. Common post-surgery treatments include:
Passive treatments
If you have pain after low back surgery, your physical therapist may use passive treatments to help manage your pain. Some examples include:
Exercise
Scar massage
Preventing lower back from recurring
