Experiencing chronic back pain? Finding the right kind of treatment is probably one of your top priorities. Back pain can be uncomfortable and physically exhausting. You may feel unable to engage with your regular activities due to your painful symptoms. Back pain often comes with other symptoms like stiffness and weakness.
Having chronic pain means your pain has persisted for an extended period of time. This is unlike acute pain, which is more brief and typically caused by a specific minor injury or other incident. When you have chronic pain, simply waiting for relief to come might not work. Chronic pain can last for weeks, months or even years.
Persistent pain in the back can have many causes such as poor posture or gradual wear and tear. To alleviate your pain, it is important to actively seek and engage in treatment. Physical therapy can be a great source of effective care. By learning about different physical therapy treatment methods, you can find the techniques that match your needs.
5 effective chronic back pain treatment methods
- Manual therapy — Manual therapy is a kind of hands-on physical therapy. With a range of manual therapy techniques, your physical therapist can apply controlled pressure and motions to certain areas of your back. In many cases, back pain is caused by tension in the muscles. One manual therapy technique called soft tissue mobilization can relieve this tension. By addressing your muscle tension, you can relieve your pain at the source. Deep pressure and rhythmic stretching are key parts of manual therapy. When developing a physical therapy treatment plan for your chronic back pain, manual therapy can play an important role.
- Focused exercises — Building strength and flexibility can help alleviate your pain. With guided physical therapy exercises, you can target the affected areas of your body. A personalized routine will typically be designed to strengthen your back muscles and core. Your exercises should also improve your posture and increase your range of motion. By reducing strain on your back, you can work to relieve your chronic back pain. Other treatments like manual therapy can work well in synergy with targeted exercises. These exercises can be practiced between sessions, which can help you maintain a steady rate of progress.
- Aquatic therapy — Looking for a new low-impact way to get exercise? Aquatic therapy, sometimes called hydrotherapy, is a popular choice. This type of physical therapy is often an ideal treatment for chronic back pain because of the way it reduces strain. By taking advantage of your natural buoyancy in water, you can work to strengthen your muscles without putting them under any extra stress. The soothing properties of water can also help you relax and relieve pressure on your spine. Key benefits of aquatic therapy include reduced spinal tension and enhanced mobility.
- Spine care — The cause of chronic back pain is often rooted in the spine. Whether you have a strained muscle along the spine or a herniated disc, spinal dysfunction can result in persistent pain. Spinal injuries and invasive surgeries are other factors that can play a role. With spine-focused physical therapy, you can receive effective treatment for your chronic back pain. Your care plan will be designed to meet your personal needs and priorities. The plan may include a variety of different specialized tools and techniques. As you progress in your treatment, your physical therapist can adjust the plan to reflect your changing condition.
- Dry needling — If you are looking for a treatment that can immediately reduce your chronic back pain, dry needling can be a great choice. Dry needling involves the insertion of sterile needles into the areas that are causing your pain. These can include tendons, ligaments and muscle knots. The approach is called dry needling because there is no medication in the needles. The needles themselves are meant to do the work of relieving pain and tension. By triggering healing processes in the tissue, dry needling can also boost your recovery time.
Find top-notch chronic back pain treatment at Border Therapy Services
Want to experience effective long-term chronic back pain treatment? Border Therapy Services can help. Each member of our highly trained staff is committed to improving your health. We address the needs of patients on an individual basis, tailoring personalized treatment plans for each patient. When you choose one of our clinics, you can work with a licensed physical therapist to find lasting pain relief.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.