Coughing is your body’s way of getting rid of bits of dust or other unwanted irritants you may have breathed in. Or, you may be suffering from a cold, and your body is trying to clear the mucus out of your throat and lungs. Regardless of the cause, a cough is one of the ways that your body helps you feel better. But what if you feel pain in your back when you cough?
People who are suffering from a cold, flu or seasonal allergies may be coughing a lot more than usual. It is common to experience mild back pain as a part of your symptoms due to the strain that coughing can put on your back muscles. But if you haven’t been sick lately, then your back pain when coughing might be due to something more serious.
What causes back pain when coughing?
There are a number of conditions that may be the cause of your back hurting when you cough. Thankfully, most spine and back problems can be treated without the need for surgery. Physical therapy is an effective way to treat many of the common causes of back pain.
Here are a few of the reasons why you experience back pain when coughing:
- Herniated discs in the spine.
- Muscle strain in the back.
- Sprained ligaments connected to the spine.
- Muscle spasms or cramps.
- Myofascial trigger points in the upper back.
How can physical therapy help to treat my back pain?
Physical therapy is a safe and noninvasive way to treat many kinds of musculoskeletal pain, including back pain. The goals of physical therapy treatment are to reduce your back pain, increase your mobility and improve your overall function. Physical therapists normally treat back pain in two ways: through active exercises and passive modalities of treatment.
A physical therapist can guide you through exercises and stretches that are designed to strengthen your back and increase its flexibility and mobility. Passive therapeutic methods such as manual therapy are employed by therapists to reduce your pain, as well as loosen the stiff muscles and joints that are causing your back to hurt when you cough.
If you are experiencing recurrent back pain when you cough, it may be time to visit a physical therapist. Let the experts at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy help. Our team can get you started with a free screening that will help them to diagnose the exact cause of your back pain. We can then develop a physical therapy plan that is perfect for your individual needs.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
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