How Physical Therapy Can Stop Your Chronic Back Pain
Chronic back pain can not only result in mild to intense discomfort when performing tasks, but it can also result in immobility of the back. Don’t let chronic pain keep you from work or from doing the activities you love. Physical therapy can help you to live without pain.
What Is Chronic Back Pain?
Chronic pain is marked by sensitivity or discomfort lasting for more than three months following injury or illness. In many cases, chronic pain can last for years. It is usually not indicative of ongoing injury but rather a lasting effect triggered by the pain centers in the brain.
The frequency and level of pain experienced varies from person to person and can affect any age, and it often occurs alongside other ailments such as weakness, gait abnormalities, and even a loss of mobility among other conditions.
Getting Started With a Physical Therapist
If you are suffering from chronic pain, physical therapy can help you find relief! Whether you are in need of senior care, aquatic therapy, or recovery from a sports-related or work-related injury, your physical therapist will help you target the source of your chronic pain and establish exercises catered to your specific needs. These exercises will help to improve mobility and your quality of movement to get you back to living your life.
Therapy To Decrease Pain
If you’re experiencing severe pain, the physical therapist may focus on passive physical therapy (modalities) such as using:
- Ice and heat packs: This can help to reduce muscle spasms and inflammation. Heat and cold therapy might be alternated to provide relief.
- Ultrasound: Sound waves are applied to your skin and they travel to soft tissues in back muscles to relieve pain and help your tissue to heal.
- Electrical nerve stimulation: This type of therapy overrides painful signals sent to the brain by your back by using electrical stimulation.
Therapy To Strengthen Your Back
Your physical therapist will work with you to find the right method of therapy for you. Your therapist will educate you on chronic pain and create a treatment plan to meet the needs of your individualized recovery. Exercises in your treatment plan will help you to strengthen the back, gain flexibility, and improve overall body mechanics to relieve your pain and keep it from coming back.
If you are suffering from chronic pain, our trained physical therapists at Kleinpeter Physical Therapy can help you find relief without pain pills or injections. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We would love the opportunity to meet with you, evaluate your condition, and implement a treatment plan specifically catered to your needs in order to get you back to enjoying life.