Low back pain can linger for long periods and it’s time to seek out a solution. Here are 5 ways that can help alleviate the pain.
Movement Analysis/Assessment
By going to a specialist such as a Physical Therapist, you can determine how efficiently you are moving during various positions and activities throughout the day. This is important because certain muscles can be working too much while others are not at all. This can cause muscular imbalances such as weakening, tightening, and even create “knots” for the over loaded muscles, while atrophying the others.
Physical Therapy
Physical Therapists are known as the Movement Specialists among the medical community and are even educated at a doctoral level. After a thorough evaluation and assessment the Physical Therapist can determine which exercises, stretches, and modalities can be most effective for you. They can also provide manual therapy to provide deep tissue massage and Myofascial release as well as perform spinal manipulation or mobilization to correct the alignment of the spine and peripheral joints.
Spinal Decompression
This is a modality utilized by Physical Therapists that is used primarily for Low back pain and neck pain. Spinal Decompression is a type of traction that primarily treatments ailments that involve disk pathology, such as bulging or herniated disks, degenerative disk disease, and radiculopathies. Decompression is a minimally invasive technique that stretches the spine to take pressure off the disks. As a result, bulging disks may retract, taking pressure off nerves and other structures in your spine. Decompression is a conservative approach for those trying to avoid medications, injections, and especially surgery.
Dry-Needling
Dry needling is a skilled intervention that uses a thin needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular, and connective tissues for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments. The goal of Dry-needling is to reduce the hyperirritability of the targeted muscle tissue which can be felt as a taut band in the muscle. Some people may refer to this as a “knot”.
Weight loss
Weight obviously determines the amount of forces placed upon the body with all movements. Even from the simplest of tasks such as walking or standing up, the amount of pressure placed on the spine is exacerbated when there is excessive weight. The good news is that just the slightest amount of weight loss (5 lbs) can be statistically significant in decreasing the amount force directed throughout the body. My advice would be to start slow and easy with just a short term goal of losing 5 lbs in one month or so.
For more Info Check out: Bonnette Elite Physical Therapy and Wellness in Fort Worth or Call 817-862-9665
Thanks for reading!
Alex Bonnette PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Owner and Doctor Physical Therapy
Bonnette Elite Physical Therapy and Wellness in Azle