When do you need physical therapy for back pain?

back pain treatment

Sitting with poor posture. Lifting objects improperly. Repetitive movements. These are just a few of the issues that could result in back pain. 

Back pain is a common issue in the U.S. Studies show that 31 million Americans are living with back pain at any given time. In many cases, you may need to rest or take a little medication to reduce your pain. However, these treatments aren’t very effective for conditions that cause serious or long-lasting back pain. In these cases, you may need physical therapy for back pain.

Signs you need a physical therapist’s help for back pain

Physical therapists specialize in a variety of techniques for treating back pain. They can develop customized treatments to help you regain your back mobility. In addition, these specialists can help reduce and prevent back pain. 

You may need to see a physical therapist for back pain treatment if:

  1. It hurts to move your back — You may need physical therapy if your back hurts when you bend over, stand up or sit down. Often, this kind of pain is related to weakness or stiffness in the muscles and tendons in your back and abdomen. Physical therapy exercises can improve the condition of these muscles. Doing so can help reduce the pain that occurs when moving your back.
  1. You have limited back mobility — Some conditions that cause back pain make it difficult for you to move your back. This could be related to stiff and weak muscles, or it may be caused by a spinal condition, such as a herniated disc.
  1. You have lower back pain that runs into one of your legs — Pressure on the spine in your lower back can cause an issue known as sciatica. This condition affects the sciatic nerve, which is a long nerve strand that starts in your lower back and spreads into each of your legs. Irritation of this nerve can cause pain that spreads into one of your legs.

What treatments could be involved in your back pain physical therapy?

Your physical therapist can develop a treatment plan that helps improve your spinal mobility and reduce back pain. Such a plan can also help prevent the kinds of conditions that may limit your mobility in the future. Your physical therapist will choose the most effective therapy techniques for your treatment plan.

Some of the techniques they can use include: 

Visit Excel Sports & Physical Therapy for back pain treatment

Are you searching for effective physical therapy for your back pain? Our team of therapy specialists at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy has just the therapy you’re looking for. We offer free screenings that can pinpoint the root cause of your back pain. Additionally, our physical therapists excel at building personalized therapy plans designed to reduce pain and improve mobility. 

You’ll even find that we can help you if you can’t leave home. This is possible thanks to the at-home care and virtual therapy appointments we offer, and these therapy options are specifically geared toward homebound patients. 

Contact our team today for more information about how we can treat your back pain or to schedule your free screening.