We all have experienced back pain sometime in our lives. One of the most common ways to treat this condition is through pain medication. However, there are various methods you can use to treat this condition without using these things. At Cawley Physical Therapy and Rehab, our team is experienced in treating back pain using solid physical therapy techniques. While physical therapy can be effective for many people, there are also other pain relief methods available.
Find out how neck and back physical therapy in NEPA can help relieve your back pain.
Anatomy of the Back, Pelvis & Spine
Our backs consist of a spinal column, or the backbone, and the pelvis. One of the vertebral column’s key sections is your lower back, which is also called the lumbar spine. This lumbar spine is composed of five vertebrae, L1 to L5, from superior to inferior. The pelvis is composed of two pelvic bones, the sacrum, and the coccyx.
Motions of your Back
Your back’s main movements include bending forward, side bending, bending backward, extending, and rotating. The joints between the vertebrae in the thoracic section allow your back and spine to make these motions and make your back flexible.
Top Causes of Back Pain
Chronic lower back pain is one of the most common conditions, and millions of Americans suffer from it. This inflicting, painful problem comes with a lot of causes.
Here are some of the top causes of back pain and what part of the back they impact.
Sciatica Pain
This condition inflicts pressure on the sciatic nerve causing serious pain. The pain runs down on one or both legs from the lower back. The herniated disc or bone spur in the spine presses on the nerve, causing this back pain condition.
Spinal Stenosis
When the spaces within your spine become narrower, this condition starts to occur. These narrowed spaces put pressure on the nerves that travel through your spine. The symptoms of spinal stenosis include numbness and pain within both your arms and legs.
Degenerative Joint Disease
DJD is the most common joint disorder amongst adults in their 60s. It is also referred to as OA or osteoarthritis. Flexible tissues at the ends of bones in the lower back wear down.
Degenerative Disc Disease
DDD involves osteoarthritis of the spine within the lower back. The discs between the vertebrae lose cushioning, fragmentation and herniation. These occurrences are normally related to aging.
Bulging Disc
This herniated disc condition occurs when its soft center pushes through a crack in the tougher exterior casing. Some bulged discs in the spine can result in pain and numbness in an arm or leg.
Sacroiliac Joint Pain
This pain, also known as sacroiliitis, is felt in the lower back and buttocks. It is caused by damage or injury to the joint between the spine and hip and can be similar to the herniated disc condition.
Methods of Reducing Back Pain
One of the best ways of reducing back pain without medication is physical therapy. Physical therapy incorporates aerobic exercising, core strengthening, and retrains your posture. Exercises taught in physical therapy can help restore strength to support the joints.
However, there are other beneficial ways of treating your back pain. Some of these methods include:
- Massage
- Soft tissue mobilization
- Class IV Laser
- Cupping
Learn More About Physical Therapy for Back Pain
Back pain can be excruciating, and getting relief from this pain can feel like a challenge. Physical therapy is an effective option for many people suffering from chronic back pain and provides relief without requiring pain medication. Cawley Physical Therapy & Rehab provides individualized one-on-one attention to each of our patients suffering from back pain based on their needs.
Contact Cawley Physical Therapy today to see a physical therapist in NEPA for your back pain today.
