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Click on the body parts or the list below to find out more about your pain and how physical therapy can help.
Sprain / Strain
About Back Sprain / Strain
It can be quite easy to sprain or strain your back. A sprain refers to an overstretching injury of your ligaments in your spine, whereas a strain refers to an overstretching injury to your muscles. There are hundreds of small muscles in the spine, which guide the intricate movements of each bone and multi-level joints. This delicate ballet of movement can get into trouble when heavy lifting is involved.
The majority of people sprain or strain their back when they combine lifting with twisting. The best way to avoid an injury to the low back is to use your legs when lifting, bending at the knees and keeping your back fairly straight. If you have to turn while lifting, move your feet, otherwise the strain of lifting while twisting can cause injury.
Tearing of the tissues occurs during a sprain / strain. While this is often not a full complete tear, the resulting damage can cause significant swelling and pain to occur deep in the back. Typical healing times can take at least 6-12 weeks for complete healing.
How physical therapy helps
Physical therapy is very important in your recovery from a back sprain / strain. The sooner we can see you, the better. After the injury, it is important for you to receive therapy to reduce the inflammation process as quickly as possible. Often, the root cause of the problem is limited motion in the hips or pelvis and even mid-back which causes abnormal forces in the low back.
Our therapists work with you to loosen any restricted areas, improve movement, quickly reduce your pain and strengthen your core muscles to prevent injury. It is vital that you complete a full course of therapy to ensure that you don’t reinjure your back again. Studies have shown that people who do not properly retrain their core muscles after a sprain / strain injury are more likely to re-injure their back again. Call us today to discover how we can help you quickly relieve your back pain and get back to the activities you enjoy.
Post-surgery Rehab
About Post-surgery Rehab
There are many surgical procedures for the low back including discectomies, laminectomies and even spinal fusion surgeries. The goal of most of these surgeries is to remove any broken bone, tissues or discs that may be pressing on exiting nerves from the spine. Furthermore, bringing stability to the spinal area is critical. It is important that you discuss with your physician conservative treatments first, such as physical therapy before surgery is absolutely necessary.
How physical therapy helps
Physical therapy plays a critical role in the recovery after low back surgeries. We work closely with your physician to ensure that we follow the surgical protocols in your recovery. Typically, the first phase is to help with pain-relief and education in proper movement to protect your surgery site while healing occurs. As your physician clears you for more activities, gentle hands on therapy and very gentle exercises of the legs, hips, abdominals and supporting muscles begin. Generally range of motion is begun and activation of stabilizing muscles.
As you heal and your surgery protocol allows, gentle strengthening exercises are begun along with specific stabilization exercises to rehabilitate your core muscles that support your spine. Physical therapy for walking, balance and spinal coordination are also performed. The goal is to reduce your back pain quickly, protect your spine during recovery and properly rehabilitate your spine to allow you to return to normal activities. Call us today before or after spinal surgery, we can help!