Physically intensive jobs can put a lot of wear and tear on your body, which may lead to an injury. If you have sustained a back injury from lifting at work, it can make getting back on the job difficult. But you’re not alone. There are around 2.9 million workplace injuries each year. If you’re among the many Americans who sustain a back injury from lifting at work, then you probably want to recover as quickly as possible.
Are you wondering how physical therapy can help you after injuring your back from lifting at work? If so, discover some treatment goals for your back injury and how you may be able to return to work stronger than before.
Common back injuries from lifting heavy objects
If you’ve injured your back from lifting something at work, then you probably strained or sprained your back. The difference between the two is that a back strain occurs when the muscle fibers are overstretched or torn. On the other hand, a sprain occurs when the ligaments are overstretched or torn.
If you overexert yourself while lifting something at work, you can sustain either a strain or sprain in your back. Fortunately, physical therapy can help you recover from this kind of injury quickly and even help strengthen your back to prevent future injuries like this.
Physical therapy for back injuries from lifting at work
If you have lifted a heavy object and strained your back, you can benefit from physical therapy. Some goals of physical therapy for treating a work injury include:
- Strengthening the injured area so you don’t worsen your injury.
- Improving your posture so you don’t strain on your back muscles improperly while lifting.
- Make returning to work easier and more comfortable.
In addition, if you’re worried about hurting yourself again in the same way, physical therapy can help prevent future injuries at work. Some ways a physical therapist can help prevent you from reinjuring your back include:
- Performing a physical evaluation to determine the presence of any musculoskeletal issues that can cause back problems.
- Demonstrating the best stretching techniques to loosen the muscles so you remain flexible at work while lifting.
- Guided strength training exercises intended to reduce tension in the back.
Excel Sports & Physical Therapy is ready to help you get back to work
Injuring your back can make working a physically intensive job difficult or even impossible. Whether you sustain an acute injury or develop a condition that causes chronic pain, physical therapy can help. Our expert team at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy is prepared to build you a personalized treatment plan to help reduce the recovery time for your back injury.
Contact our team today for more information about physical therapy for work injuries or to schedule an initial appointment.