Physical therapy plays a vital role in managing chronic back pain, helping to strengthen back muscles and increasing flexibility to provide more support to the spine. Physical therapists, with the help of a medical diagnosis, can expertly recommend a range of exercises and stretches for certain conditions, preventing further damage and improving a person’s quality of life.
This piece will provide a comprehensive overview of the role of physical therapy in managing chronic back pain, focusing on what physical therapy will involve, the benefits, and potential risks while also considering lifestyle changes that can make physical therapy more effective. We will cap off the article by discussing the possibility of surgery, outlining surgical options for conditions such as degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, and even alternatives such as a spondylolisthesis treatment medical implant.
What Might Cause Chronic Back Pain?
Chronic back pain can be caused by a whole host of reasons, from spinal trauma such as those caused by a car accident or sports injury to long-term conditions such as spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, or a herniated disc. Many people in their advancing years experience chronic back pain as the discs and vertebrae that make up the spine deteriorate over time. This could result in bones becoming brittle (osteoporosis), the discs drying out (herniated disc disease) or rupturing, or the joints becoming inflamed (arthritis).
A doctor may recommend medication to help manage the pain symptoms but a much more effective and long-lasting solution is regular exercise, positive lifestyle changes, and physical therapy.
What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy, sometimes shortened to just PT, is a type of treatment that helps to relieve a person’s pain by gradually improving their physical condition, including increasing strength and flexibility in the spine. As well as managing chronic back pain, physical therapy can be an effective treatment for a range of illnesses and physical issues, as well as helping people recover from serious injuries.
Following a consultation with a doctor or medical professional, a person’s back symptoms will be diagnosed and a range of treatments will be considered. PT is likely to be one of the first treatments that is recommended to a person suffering from back problems. This is especially the case if the condition prevents a person from performing their daily tasks or affects their work.
The severity of the symptoms will likely dictate how often a person is scheduled to visit a physical therapist, with some people having one appointment every few weeks and others possibly receiving treatment twice a week.
What Does Physical Therapy Entail?
In the initial stages, a physical therapist will determine the individual’s requirements and establish what their overall goals are. This will likely begin with a series of questions about the individual’s current status and ability to perform various tasks which will be referenced against the diagnosis notes and medical history provided by a doctor. In this case, the overall goal would be to reduce pain levels, improve spinal strength, achieve better posture, and boost flexibility and mobility.
An initial physical therapy examination will likely involve tests to determine how freely the person can walk around and perform simple tasks, such as climbing stairs. This will be followed by a reading of the person’s heart rate and blood pressure and checks to assess posture and balance. With these insights, the PT will then be able to devise a personalized treatment plan and set short and long-term goals.
A physical therapy treatment plan typically consists of:
- Exercises and stretches are designed to improve muscle strength, mobility, flexibility, balance, and coordination.
- Hands-on treatment that manipulates the body to relieve tension.
- Massage therapy to help relieve pain.
- Cold therapy, such as ice packs to reduce inflammation.
- Hydrotherapy, such as aqua aerobics, swimming, or water-based exercises.
- Alternative treatments such as acupuncture, dry needling, ultrasound techniques, or electrical nerve stimulation.
The PT will monitor the person’s progress and make necessary adjustments to the treatment plan to ensure goals and targets are reached in a quick but safe way. The PT will also suggest a range of exercises that can be performed at home, helping to speed up the process.
Benefits of Physical Therapy
People of any age can visit a physical therapist for a multitude of reasons, with tailored treatment plans helping people manage the symptoms of any health issue, condition, or illness, from back trouble to even cancer. In terms of back problems that cause chronic pain, the key benefits of visiting a physical therapist regularly include:
- Reduce pain and aid recovery from symptoms
- Improve a person’s ability to perform simple, daily tasks
- Help a person achieve better balance and posture
- Manage conditions so surgery is not required
- Avoid long-term issues or a disability
- Provide assistance to help a person return to playing sports
- Regain bladder or bowel control
- Back bracing
Physical Therapy Risks
Physical therapy is arguably the most risk-free form of back pain treatment but any treatment should always be administered by a professional, licensed therapist. In some cases, a condition may be temporarily worsened by physical therapy, and in rare cases, a person may see long-term negative effects. This could include a further reduction in mobility or pain in other parts of the spine.
To avoid such issues, it is important to always be completely honest with a physical therapist, carefully follow their instructions, perform daily exercises at home, and avoid anything that could worsen the condition, such as smoking, a poor diet, heavy lifting, or excessive alcohol consumption.
What if Physical Therapy Doesn’t Work?
In some cases, a person may see no improvement after months of physical therapy and trying a range of other treatments such as medication and positive lifestyle changes. In this scenario, a doctor may consider surgery as a last resort. This could include removing part of the spinal disc that is causing pain or spinal decompression surgery to create more space for the nerves to run through. This is typically followed by spinal fusion or the installation of a mechanical spinal device. This is to provide more stability in the back so the person does not suffer from fractures or other injuries.
Thank you for reading. We hope this article has provided valuable insight into the benefits of physical therapy and what the therapy entails.