Back Pain
Back pain can be a result of an acute or chronic injury that can result in degeneration or inflammation in the lower back. There are many causes of back pain, but the most common include muscle strains, disc or facet joint irritation, as well as sacroiliac dysfunction. The symptoms from these are often very similar, however proper diagnosis is critical in providing the appropriate physical therapy for back pain essential.
Symptoms of back pain:
• pain or discomfort in the upper back or lower back
• stiffness, sharp pain, soreness along the spine
• muscle spasms in the back
• postural changes
• back pain can result in symptoms in other parts of the body or even radiate into the extremities such as arms or legs.
Causes of back pain:
• Muscle strain
• Bone injury: Fracture
• Broken bones
• Scoliosis
• Herniated or bulging disc
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease or osteoarthritis
• Spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebrae)
• Muscle weakness
• Poor posture
• Facet Joint Syndrome
Goals of low back physical therapy treatment:
• Improve range of motion through back stretches
• Strengthen the back muscles to offer pain relief
• Use massage therapy and other modalities to loosen the muscles
• Reduce referred or radicular pain into extremities.