Don’t Let Back Pain Scare You This Halloween – How Physical Therapy for Back Pain Can Help
Whether you’re raking leaves, hauling pumpkins, or chasing after children on Halloween, it’s hard to enjoy it all if you have a sore back. No matter if your back pain is something new or something that keeps returning, physical therapy can help you understand your symptoms and work towards moving more comfortably.
While our Halloween infographic is a nice way to remember to give your body some movement, back pain takes on many shapes, and proper treatment begins with knowing what type of pain you’re dealing with.
What kind of back pain do you have?
Back pain can be categorized according to the duration of your pain. Acute pain is a recent onset of pain and lasts for days or a few weeks. Subacute pain lasts between four to 12 weeks, while chronic pain lasts for more than 12 weeks. It can also improve and then return. These terms refer to the duration, not the cause of pain. [1]
Muscle strains and movement-related pain
Having an achy or tight lower back from lifting, twisting or being more active than usual may be caused by irritated muscles or other tissue. Often times, there is not one clear cause. [1] A physical therapist can test how you move and work on regaining your tolerance for bending, lifting, and general activity. [2]
Sciatica and leg pain
B
ack pain with a burning, tingling, or shooting down the buttocks and legs feeling may be caused by irritation of a nerve in the lower back. This could also be from a disc problem causing compression of the nerve. Strength, sensation, and movement will be tested through your PT in an attempt to develop your best treatment plan, which could consist of specific exercises and nerve glides. More aggressive stretching is not always the answer. [3]
Brandon Priebe, DPT based out of the Minnetonka location, says “Two people might come into the clinic with lower back pain and need entirely different exercises. Your PT looks at how your symptoms change with movement to guide therapy.”
Arthritis and age-related changes
Arthritis, disc degeneration, and spinal stenosis may be causes of back pain. But not all changes found on imaging studies account for a person’s pain. [1, 2] PT can assist you in becoming stronger and in learning appropriate activities based on your symptoms and needs. [2]
Persistent or recurrent back pain
If your back pain is recurring or lasting for months, it may interfere with your work, sleeping, and moving around comfortably. A PT can help you establish an exercise routine and know how to react during flare-ups. [2, 4]
What about the four stretches in our graphic?
The skeletons demonstrate a hamstring stretch, piriformis stretch, lumbar stretch, and lower trunk rotation. These movements focus on flexibility around the hips and lower back, but they are examples rather than a prescription for every type of back pain.
A PT can help you decide which movements are appropriate, how much to do, and whether strengthening or another approach should take priority. [2] Keep movement gentle. Stop if an exercise worsens your symptoms, especially if pain spreads farther down your leg or you develop tingling or numbness. [3]
How physical therapy can help
Your evaluation starts with your story: when symptoms began, what makes them better or worse, and what you want to get back to doing. Your PT then assesses movement, strength, and other relevant findings to develop an individualized plan. [2]
That plan may combine exercise, hands-on treatment, and practical advice for daily activities. The goal is to improve function and give you tools you can use beyond the clinic. [2, 4]
When should you begin physical therapy? Brandon believes it is necessary to deal with an issue when it begins affecting your daily activities. “We need to understand what your back pain is stopping you from doing, whether it be picking up your kids, working, or returning to playing golf.”
Back pain that requires medical care
Visit the emergency room if you have back pain with recent onset of bowel or bladder dysfunction or numbness in the groin or inner thigh area. [2] Other reasons to seek medical advice include recent onset of leg weakness, difficulty urinating, fever, weight loss, or pain after an accident. [1]
Scare away the pain so you can move
If you are letting back pain interfere with your favorite activities, get in touch with OSR Physical Therapy. We provide physical therapy services to the Chanhassen, Chaska, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Shakopee, and Norwood Young America areas. Our staff can help you make the next step toward a more comfortable way of moving.
Spine up this Halloween by giving yourself a treatment plan for your lifestyle.
Meet Brandon:
Brandon Priebe, DPT is a physical therapist and clinic director at our Minnetonka location. He’s got over 8 years of experiencing treating a variety of orthopedic conditions, including back pain. He is among the top 5% of PTs nationwide as a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. He has special interest in golf injuries and is TPI certified. To schedule an appointment with Brandon or our other providers, visit osrpt.com to request appointment or call 952-512-2400
