Back and Spine Physical Therapy Questions

What is physical therapy for back pain?

Physical therapy for low back pain may include the following: mobilization and manipulation (what some people call adjustments), stretching, strengthening, and specific exercises to improve motion in tight areas of your spine and joints.

Dry needling and electrical stimulation can help reduce pain. Our therapists address the underlying movement, strength and control limitations to eliminate low back pain and prevent it from coming back. Learn more about back physical therapy.

Does physical therapy help arthritis in the back?

Arthritis can contribute to low back pain. However, while most people attribute their low back pain to arthritis, there are usually multiple problems that can be the cause. Often tight joints and areas of the spine around the arthritis increase stress and pain in the area. Most of these problems can be significantly improved with physical therapy treatment. Learn more about the benefits of back physical therapy.

How does physical therapy help back pain?

Physical therapy reduces low back pain by improving movement, strength, stability and quality of motion in the hips, pelvis and low back, reducing the abnormal pressure on the painful areas. Pain is also reduced by decreasing the pain sensitivity with exercises, mobilization, manipulation of the spine and pelvis and dry needling performed by a physical therapist.

Do you have physical therapists that specialize in back pain?

Excel Physical Therapists have extensive experience and specialized training to treat low back pain. We focus on addressing the underlying problems that contribute to the low back pain to keep it from coming back. Learn more about our experience with back pain and how we can help you.

What does physical therapy do for sciatica pain?

While many people believe that sciatica is caused by compression of a nerve in the low back, it is actually chemical irritation around the nerve that produces the pain. Sciatica can be caused by problems in multiple areas of the low back and pelvis.

Physical therapy can reduce the irritation of the nerves around a herniated disc, joints of the spine or muscles that are causing sciatica. Physical therapy for sciatica pain works by reducing the inflammation and pressure around the nerves, through stretching, manipulation and stabilization exercises. Nerve mobility exercises help to reduce irritation and help the nerve glide normally, reducing the pain of sciatica. If you experience sciatica pain, please contact Excel Physical Therapy today.

Can physical therapy help herniated discs?

Herniated discs are very common in many individuals with no low back pain. Research has shown that herniated discs can heal or decrease in size with appropriate treatment. Physical therapy reduces the pressure on a degenerative or herniated disc and improves the strength and stability around it by building improved strength and control with specialized exercises.

What do you wear to physical therapy for back?

When going to back physical therapy, we recommend wearing comfortable, loose-fitting or elastic clothing to allow the physical therapist to easily evaluate your back and any joints that may contribute to low back pain.

What to expect at physical therapy for lower back pain?

Physical therapy for low back pain begins with a thorough evaluation of the symptoms, movement of the spine and joints, strength, sensation, and screening for medical conditions that may be the cause of low back pain.

After the diagnosis, problems are identified and treated with the following: Manual therapy (a direct hands on approach to mobilizing or manipulating the spine or tissue), exercises to improve the balance and quality of spine movement and strengthening or stabilization exercises.

This improves the ability of the body to move with good control and reduces stress on the low back, reducing or eliminating back pain. To schedule an appointment for back physical therapy, contact Excel Physical Therapy today.