Back and neck pain can occur for a variety of causes. Back pain can be caused by anything that causes the structure of the spine to alter, such as lumbar disc herniation, lumbar degenerative disc disease, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, or osteoarthritis.
Muscle strains, which can arise as a result of a cervical herniated disc, cervical degenerative disc disease, or cervical osteoarthritis, are the most common causes of neck pain.
Back and neck pain can be mild to severe, and it may be accompanied by other symptoms. It can also be the reason you find yourself saying “no” or “I can’t” to tons of things in life that you enjoy doing.
Fortunately, physical therapy can help you get rid of back and neck discomfort and get back to enjoying a pain-free life. Contact our office at IMG Physical Therapy now to schedule a consultation and get relief from your back and neck discomfort.
The first steps to take for neck and back pain
If you’re having back or neck pain, you should see your primary care physician immediately. They will almost certainly do a physical examination and may request x-rays or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test.
Your doctor will be able to examine your soft tissues, ligaments, tendons, and blood vessels clearly with an MRI, which can reveal the source of your back or neck pain. Once this has been determined, your doctor will recommend a treatment plan, which will almost certainly include physical therapy.
Back and neck discomfort are significant causes of disability and can lead to a loss of productivity. As a result, if you are experiencing back or neck pain, it is critical that you seek medical help as soon as possible. Many people make the mistake of believing that they can handle their chronic pain on their own at home, but this is not the case!
The sooner you have your condition stabilized and begin recovery, the better off you will be.
Finding relief from neck and back pain
Physical therapy is an effective treatment for both back and neck pain. The goals and expected outcomes of these treatments include:
- Decreased pain and stiffness. By using passive treatments such as manual therapy, your physical therapist will help alleviate pain in the affected area and accelerate the healing process.
- Improved quality of life. Physical therapy can help you return to your normal routine much quicker, allowing for an overall improvement in quality of life.
- Improved strength. Your physical therapist will design an exercise program tailored to your unique needs that will help you strengthen the muscles in the affected area.
- Prevention of further issues. You can avoid future injuries and pain recurrence by understanding good body mechanics.
- Increased range of motion. Flexibility exercises will be incorporated into your treatment plan by your physical therapist to help you increase the range of motion in your back and neck.
Treatment plans consist of both passive and active methods.
Passive physical therapy aims to reduce a patient’s pain levels as well as make them more manageable. The following therapy techniques and tools are commonly referred to as passive therapy because they are done to a patient by a physical therapist. Common passive treatments for back and neck pain include ice and heat therapies, manual therapy, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound.
Active physical therapy is different from passive because it involves exercises that you, the patient, must do, instead of actions being performed on you by the physical therapist.
There are tons of exercises that your physical therapist might recommend. Many of them involve stability training, strength training and targeted stretches. Some of these exercises can improve your range of motion, and others can build up and restore the muscles around affected areas to provide those parts of the body with proper support.
These independent exercises are normally utilized later in treatment, once your lower back pain has been decreased enough for you to do them without experiencing too much pain or discomfort.
Call our clinic for an appointment
Are you living with back or neck pain? If so, say goodbye today with the help of physical therapy. Contact us today to confirm your appointment and get started on the first steps toward pain relief!
