The human body is one thing that many of us take for granted until something goes wrong. Your overall health can have a large impact on your day-to-day life especially when things are not functioning as they should. Making smart decisions when it comes to your body such as healthy eating and an active lifestyle can be beneficial. But even when you are making the right decisions, your body may give you some trouble. One of the most common pains that individuals experience is back pain. At Pick PT in Idaho Falls, we know that back pain can be miserable and cause a rift in your life. Our trained professionals want to help you gain control of your pain and help alleviate symptoms so it isn’t affecting your life!
Idaho Falls Back Pain Specialists
Common Causes of Back Pain
- Muscle Strain or Sprain: Overstretching or tearing of the muscles or ligaments in the back, often due to lifting heavy objects, sudden movements, or poor posture.
- Poor Posture: Prolonged sitting or standing in positions that strain the back muscles and spine, such as slouching or hunching over a computer.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: Wear and tear on the spinal discs over time, reducing cushioning between the vertebrae and potential nerve compression.
- Herniated or Bulging Discs: Damage or displacement of the intervertebral discs, which can irritate nearby nerves and cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the back and legs.
- Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal, often due to age-related changes or conditions like arthritis, leading to pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
- Osteoarthritis: Degeneration of the joints in the spine, resulting in pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.
- Scoliosis: Abnormal curvature of the spine can cause uneven pressure on the back muscles and lead to pain and discomfort.
- Traumatic Injury: Accidents, falls, or sports injuries that result in fractures, dislocations, or soft tissue damage to the spine.
- Obesity: Excess weight can strain the muscles and ligaments in the back and increase the risk of conditions like disc herniation and osteoarthritis.
- Poor Physical Conditioning: Weak core muscles and lack of flexibility can contribute to back pain by placing additional stress on the spine during movement and activities.
To know what is causing your back pain, come see one of our physical therapists and they will make a specialized treatment plan for your needs. No matter the reason you are experiencing back pain, we want to help relieve your pain!
Benefits of Physical Therapy
Pain Relief
Physical therapy offers significant benefits in providing pain relief for back pain. Through a combination of targeted exercises, manual therapy techniques, and personalized treatment plans, physical therapists help alleviate discomfort and improve overall function. Manual therapy, such as massage and joint mobilization, helps reduce muscle tension, inflammation, and stiffness in the affected areas, providing immediate relief. By addressing the underlying causes of back pain and promoting healing and rehabilitation, physical therapy offers a safe, effective, and non-invasive approach to pain relief, allowing individuals to regain mobility, function, and quality of life.
Better Posture
When you go to physical therapy, it is common to strengthen the muscles, improve mobility, and gain education which all can help with having better posture. Education on proper body mechanics and ergonomics in daily activities such as sitting, standing, and lifting helps individuals maintain optimal posture and prevent future injury. Better posture not only reduces the risk of back pain and related musculoskeletal issues but also promotes improved breathing, circulation, and overall physical function, leading to enhanced comfort and quality of life.
Improved Mobility and Flexibility
Physical therapy offers invaluable benefits in improving mobility and function for individuals experiencing back pain. As mobility improves, individuals can perform daily activities with greater ease and confidence, enhancing overall function and quality of life. Increased mobility can also reduce the risk of future injury and prevent the recurrence of back pain, allowing individuals to enjoy a more active and fulfilling lifestyle.
Strengthening Muscles
Strengthening muscles through physical therapy is a key strategy for managing back pain effectively. By targeting the muscles surrounding the spine, physical therapists help improve stability, support, and alignment, which can alleviate strain on the back and reduce pain. Strengthening exercises focus on the core muscles, including the abdominals, obliques, and back extensors, as well as other muscle groups that support the spine. As these muscles become stronger, they provide better support to the spine and help distribute the load more evenly, reducing the risk of injury and improving overall function. Through consistent participation in a tailored strengthening program, individuals can experience long-term relief from back pain and enjoy improved mobility and quality of life.
How Back Pain Can Affect Everyday Life
Back pain can significantly impact everyday life, affecting your ability to perform routine tasks and participate in activities you enjoy. The constant discomfort and limitations imposed by back pain can diminish the quality of life, making simple movements like bending, lifting, or even sitting for extended periods challenging and painful. Once effortless tasks may become challenging, leading to frustration and feelings of helplessness. Back pain can also interfere with sleep, exacerbating fatigue and further impairing daily functioning. Not the emotional toll of chronic back pain can be substantial, contributing to stress, anxiety, and depression. Overall, back pain can affect all aspects of your life, from work productivity and social interactions to personal relationships and overall well-being. That is why going to a physical therapist can be extremely beneficial to feel a sense of normalcy in your life once again.
Choose Pick PT
If you have ever experienced any kind of back pain, you know that it is not something you want to have especially for an extended period. It can have a large impact on your daily activities and restrict you from doing the things that you enjoy doing. Our team at Pick PT is ready to help you figure out why you are experiencing back pain and create a unique treatment plan to help relieve the back pain you are feeling. We have a team full of experienced and trained professionals who are eager to help you so you can live life moving! Call us with any questions about what we can do for you or the ways we can help you feel good again.
(208) 534-7001
Fax: 208-534-7002
Email: patientservices@pickpt.com
2277 E Lincoln Rd
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6:30pm
921 S Utah Ave
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
Hours: Mon, Wed, & Fri 7am-6pm
Tues & Thurs 8am-12pm
3155 Channing Way D
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
Hours: Mon & Weds 7am-7pm
Tues & Thurs 8am-12pm
Fri 7am-6pm