Low back pain can affect anyone, regardless of age or activity level. It can range from being a mild annoyance to a debilitating condition that significantly impacts daily life. But what are the common causes? And how can physical therapy provide relief? Let’s dive in.
Common Causes of Low Back Pain
Several factors can contribute to low back pain, though there can be other causes..
- Repetitive Motions and Imbalances: Sports like golf, with their repetitive rotational movements, can lead to imbalances and injuries over time. This can cause tightness in the hips and back pain.
- Lack of Strength and Mobility: Weakness in the glutes and core can cause compensatory activation of the lumbar paraspinals (muscles on either side of the spine), leading to low back pain. Similarly, limited joint mobility in the lumbar or thoracic spine can affect how forces are distributed, resulting in pain.
- Hypermobility: While flexibility is generally good, excessive flexibility or hypermobility can lead to increased wear and tear on the joints as people age. This can manifest as achiness and “tightness” in the back and surrounding muscles, even with full mobility.
- Muscle Imbalances: Muscle imbalances with mobility deficits are listed as a common injury. These imbalances can lead to pain and dysfunction in the low back.
- Spine Conditions: Various spinal conditions, such as herniated discs, stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and sciatica, are common causes of low back pain.
How Physical Therapy Can Help
Physical therapy offers a comprehensive approach to addressing low back pain, focusing on identifying and treating the root cause rather than just the symptoms. Here’s how:
- Functional Movement Analysis: Physical therapists, like those at Forward Performance Sports Physical Therapy (FPSPT), specialize in functional movement analysis to identify where compensatory movements originate and counteract muscle imbalances with tailored programs. This helps pinpoint the specific issues contributing to your low back pain.
- Manual Therapy: Manual therapy techniques, including spinal and extremity manipulations, joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, and dry needling can help restore proper movement and reduce pain. These hands-on techniques can address restrictions and dysfunctions in the joints, muscles, and fascia. Only a small subset of physical therapists are credentialed to do this.
- Targeted Strengthening: Strengthening the local stabilizing musculature in the hips, glutes, and core is crucial for managing and preventing low back pain, especially in cases of hypermobility or muscle weakness. Physical therapy programs often include specific exercises to target these areas.
- Corrective Exercise and Neuromuscular Re-education: Customized exercise programs designed to address muscle imbalances and restricted movement patterns can optimize healing and prevent future issues. Oftentimes with chronic low back pain, the body begins to lose awareness (proprioception) of where it is in space. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) training and exercises evolve throughout treatment to match individual needs.
- Pain Science Integration and Education: Physical therapists can provide education on managing pain, modifying daily activities, and adjusting load dosages to aid in pain management. This empowers patients to take an active role in their recovery.
Why Choose Specialized Physical Therapy?
Choosing a physical therapy practice that offers one-on-one care with highly trained doctors of physical therapy, like FPSPT, can make a significant difference. This individualized approach allows for a thorough evaluation, accurate diagnosis, and personalized treatment plan, leading to more effective and lasting results. In other words, getting better faster, with relief that lasts.
Conclusion
Low back pain can stem from various causes, but physical therapy offers a multifaceted solution. By addressing the root cause through functional movement analysis, manual therapy, targeted strengthening, and education, physical therapy can help you find relief and get back to your active lifestyle. Don’t let low back pain hold you back; consider seeking professional help to start your journey to recovery. It’s Only Forward From Here!
