Many people choose to visit physical therapists for back pain treatment. Physical therapy treatments don’t rely on side effect-inducing drugs or invasive surgical procedures. Instead, physical therapy empowers your own body to reduce and prevent pain for a better quality of life.
Back pain has many causes that are treatable by physical therapists. Take a look below to learn more about five of the most common causes of back pain for which you may need to see a physical therapist for treatment.
Five common causes of chronic back pain
- Strains and sprains — Your back operates with the help of many muscles, ligaments and tendons in your back and abdomen. This tissue also helps to support the upper body, which takes some pressure off the spine. Overexertion or repetitive use can cause some of this tissue to stretch or tear. This is known as a strain (or sprain if it’s a ligament), and it’s painful and limits your range of motion.
- Slipped disc — The discs in your spine protect the vertebrae from friction and shock damage. They’re filled with a thick fluid encased by a thick, flexible shell. An injury or repetitive strain can cause this fluid to burst from the shell, which is known as a herniated disc or a slipped disc. This is a painful condition that can also limit your range of motion and spread pain into your legs or arms.
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) — DDD is a natural degradation of the fluid in your discs that happens as you age. When the discs have less fluid in them, they grow flatter and stiffer, which causes symptoms like pain or stiffness in the spine. Its progression in some people is noticeable while in others, it can be more painful.
- Sciatica — Sciatica is a form of lower back pain that develops when there is pressure or inflammation in your lower back. This pressure or inflammation affects the sciatic nerve, which is a long nerve strand that runs from the lower back into the legs. Since the sciatic nerve runs through each of the legs, sciatic nerve pain affects them as well as your lower back.
- Arthritis — Arthritis is a common debilitating condition that causes the cartilage in your joints to wear down. This can happen in the vertebrae of your spine, which makes it painful and difficult for you to bend or twist your back.
Visit Border Therapy Services for chronic back pain treatment
Is chronic back pain taking away your ability to enjoy physical activities and a normal daily life? Our physical therapists at Border Therapy Services can help. Contact us today to talk to our team about chronic back pain treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.