Most of us have experienced some type of pain in the lower back and most of us decide to ignore it—at least for a little while. If you’re suffering from back pain, set up an evaluation with one of our Tempe, Maricopa, or Mesa back pain specialists to get a personalized treatment plan.
Lower back physical therapy is one of the most effective, least invasive forms of treatment and one of the most effective. We offer physical therapy for back pain in Arizona, with convenient locations in Tempe, Mesa, Maricopa.
Back pain and spine conditions we treat:
- Lumbar spondylosis (degenerative changes in the lower back)
- Muscle strain or sprain in the back
- Lumbar radiculopathy (pinched nerve in the lower back)
- Sciatica (pain radiating down the leg due to compression of the sciatic nerve)
- Herniated or bulging discs in the lumbar spine
- Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back)
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Postural imbalances contributing to back pain
- Facet joint syndrome (pain originating from the small joints in the spine)
- Myofascial pain syndrome in the back muscles
Back pain affects your quality of life
Much of the American population live with lower back pain! According to a study conducted by the American Physical Therapy Association, the number is as high as two-thirds of adults!
Many of our patients have tried various remedies, including pain relief medications, short-term chiropractic care, or exercise programs / stretches, but their pain persists.
When you stand up, sit down, lay down, walk, run, bend, or jump, you use the muscles, joints, and other tissue in your lower back. This area gets involved whenever you move an arm or leg, making it impossible to rest in the traditional sense.
It is one of the critical links between the upper and lower body, made up of large muscles that protect your spine from injury. A weakness, imbalance, or strain in your lower back, core, or hips sends a signal to your brain to protect the area by stopping all movement. The signal is pain. But since we can’t discontinue movement without forfeiting major aspects of our lives, we endure the pain and allow the problem to become chronic.
Common causes of back pain
- Muscle strains
- Disc problems (disc bulge or ruptured disc)
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Scoliosis
Many of our patients live life with this pain, and compensate to avoid their pain. They are careful not to stand up or sit down too quickly, cannot sit in certain positions, and only ever experience temporary relief.
Often the compensatory movement will lead to other negative issues. What’s worse, many people have unknowingly made the problem worse by engaging in stretches or exercise without understanding what is causing their pain.
It’s important to know that while most low back pain is not serious, sometimes it is caused by something more severe, such as a herniated disc or osteoarthritis. Therefore, it is advisable to consult with a physical therapist before engaging in a plan for recovery.
As physical therapists, we are relieved when someone decides to be evaluated for lower back pain. We are relieved because we know the solution can be simple. Your road to recovery may require some stretching, exercises, postural correction or modalities such as manual therapy, ultrasound, and dry needling. With consistency of effort, our patients achieve results.
Assessment questions for lower back pain include
Ask yourself:
- Do I have chronic pain all the time?
- How does movement change my pain?
- Do I have pain into my leg or groin?
- How is this impacting my life?
- Do I have weakness in my foot, ankle, or hip?
If so, working with one of our spine care specialists will provide you with the pain relief you seek. We work closely with all of our patients using minimally invasive treatment techniques for a faster recovery and long-term optimal function.
NOTE: If you experience a loss of bowel or bladder control, you must go to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
Lower back therapy evaluations
If you suffer from persistent back pain, seek medical advice from your doctor and then get evaluated by a physical therapist.
We see back pain patients in all of our offices:
Call us and let us walk you through a quick assessment to determine the severity of your condition and begin your journey to pain management (and ultimately long term pain relief).
Remember life before your back hurt?
Give us a call at (480) 833-1005 to schedule an evaluation for lower back therapy. We would love to hear from you. In the meantime, feel free to read our blog posts on the subject.
