| Lower back pain is one of the most common | | | | condition, during which case the treatment plan |
| causes of job-related disability and why some | | | | may consist of resolving the underlying condition |
| people miss work. It is also the second most | | | | to treat the back pain. |
| common neurological ailment in the United States, | | | | Lower Back Pain and Physical Therapy Exercise |
| second only to headache. In fact, approximately | | | | Physical therapy exercise is one of the most |
| 80% of adults in Western countries have, at | | | | common methods of treating lower back pain. In |
| some point, experienced lower back pain. | | | | fact, many home remedies for lower back pain |
| For some fortunate people, pain in the lower back | | | | consist of exercise, because the general theory is |
| may be resolved by itself or with the aid of | | | | that if you remain active, you remain healthy. This |
| medication within two to four weeks. However, | | | | is true in most cases. |
| there are some cases of lower back pain that | | | | However, for purposes of this article, the |
| may last for more than a few weeks, during | | | | exercises featured here will be those that are |
| which case the condition is termed as "chronic" | | | | practiced by physical therapists to treat patients |
| and "progressive," meaning it can only grow | | | | with lower back pain. |
| worse over time. | | | | Generally, in physical therapy exercises, the |
| Moreover, 60-80% of those patients who suffer | | | | exercise program for back pain should encompass |
| their first episode of lower back pain may | | | | a set of stretching exercises, strengthening |
| experience recurring pain within one year. | | | | exercises, and low impact aerobics. Read below |
| According to current research, there are certain | | | | for more on these exercises: |
| muscles in the back that work to stabilize the | | | | -Stretching |
| spine. When the spine or the back suffers an | | | | The back of a person is composed of the spinal |
| injury, these muscles are reflexively inhibited or | | | | column and contiguous muscles, ligaments and |
| shutdown. Worse still, these muscles do not | | | | tendons. All these are designed to move in |
| spontaneously recover, and this is true even if | | | | consonance with each other so that any limitation |
| patients do not feel pain and are able to return to | | | | in the range of motion in any of these |
| normal activity levels. | | | | components of the back result in back pain. |
| As a result of the inhibition of these muscles, | | | | Stretching for lower back pain specifically targets |
| called lumbar multifidi and the transversus | | | | soft tissues, such as muscles, ligaments and |
| abdominus, lower back pain occurs. However, | | | | tendons, found in the back and around the spine. |
| there are steps you can take to prevent the | | | | By stretching, the spine and soft tissues are |
| same thing from happening to you. | | | | mobilized, increasing motion and thus, relieving pain. |
| Lower Back Pain and Physical Therapy | | | | There are many kinds of stretching exercises |
| One way to prevent the inhibition of the lumbar | | | | employed by physical therapists. One is the |
| multifidi and transversus abdominus is through a | | | | Hamstring Stretching Exercise which works to |
| series of physical therapy exercises. | | | | relax tight hamstrings, a common symptom of |
| Designed to strengthen the muscles of the lower | | | | lower back pain. This exercise is said to help |
| back and keep the spine healthy, these physical | | | | decrease the intensity of lower back pain among |
| therapy exercises may range from back | | | | sufferers. |
| stabilization exercises to muscle strength | | | | -Strengthening |
| development and several wide variety of | | | | Physical therapists generally use two forms of |
| techniques. | | | | strengthening and back pain relief exercises, |
| In addition, a physical therapist may also | | | | usually depending on the specific condition of the |
| recommend such methods as heat therapy, | | | | patient. These are the McKenzie exercises and |
| ultrasound, massage, mobilization, and education | | | | dynamic lumbar stabilization exercises. However, |
| about posture and body mechanics in order to | | | | the two forms of strengthening exercises may |
| prevent lower back pain from recurring. | | | | also be combined should the therapist find it |
| Some of these methods will be discussed later on. | | | | appropriate to do so. |
| You will also find some practical self-help tips | | | | -McKenzie Exercises |
| provided by experts to help you avoid lower back | | | | Named after a physical therapist in New Zealand, |
| pain or prevent the condition from worsening. | | | | McKenzie exercises are primarily extension |
| However, before we head on to learning how | | | | exercises that could help reduce pain generated |
| lower back pain is treated through physical | | | | from the disc space and also may help reduce |
| therapy, it is important that we first understand | | | | the symptoms of herniated disc by reducing |
| what causes lower back pain. | | | | pressure on a nerve root. |
| Lower Back Pain: CAUSES | | | | For acute pain, the McKenzie exercises should be |
| There are actually many types of back pain, but | | | | done frequently, at least once every two hours. |
| the most common is pain in the lower back. Why? | | | | In addition, patients are advised to avoid flexing |
| You might ask. The reason is simple: you carry | | | | their spine when exercising. |
| most of your weight in the lower back. Thus, it is | | | | -Dynamic Lumbar Stabilization Exercises |
| highly likely that a person would suffer pain in that | | | | Using this back exercise technique, the first thing |
| area. | | | | that a physical therapist does is to look for the |
| There is no definitive cause of lower back pain. | | | | patient's "neutral" spine. This refers to the position |
| Sometimes, the causes of the condition are so | | | | that allows the patient to feel the most |
| complex that it is difficult to pinpoint just a single | | | | comfortable. |
| one. | | | | Afterwards, when the patient is in that position, |
| However, physical therapists and other healthcare | | | | the back muscles are then exercised in order to |
| professionals have observed that lower back pain | | | | "teach" the spine how to stay in this position. |
| is often a result of strained back muscles and | | | | Performing these exercises on a regular basis can |
| ligaments due to any of the following activities: | | | | help strengthen the back muscles and keep the |
| Improper posture | | | | spine well-positioned. |
| Heavy lifting | | | | Low Impact Aerobic Exercises |
| Sudden awkward movement | | | | The purpose of low impact aerobic exercise is to |
| Muscle spasm | | | | recondition the back. Patients who undergo |
| Stress | | | | reconditioning of the back through low impact |
| We could all be guilty of the above activities. We | | | | aerobic exercise will have fewer episodes of |
| may not suffer any back pains now, but it is likely | | | | lower back pain. |
| that as we get older and the degree of inhibition | | | | In addition, whenever an episode of lower back |
| of the back muscles as a result of these activities | | | | pain does occur, the pain is less intense and lasts |
| increases, back pain becomes a very distinct | | | | only for a short period. |
| possibility. | | | | Another benefit of low impact aerobic exercise is |
| In addition to these common activities, lower back | | | | that patients tend to stay functional that is, they |
| pain may also result from specific conditions, such | | | | can continue with their regular work and carry on |
| as: | | | | with recreational activities. In contrast, patients |
| Herniated disk (when the disk material presses on | | | | who do not undergo low impact aerobic exercises |
| a nerve) | | | | typically experience the gradual loss of their |
| Sciatica (when a herniated disk presses on the | | | | functional abilities. |
| sciatic nerve. The condition causes sharp, shooting | | | | For low impact aerobic exercises to achieve their |
| pain through the buttocks and the back of the | | | | desired results, they should be continuous. This will |
| leg.) | | | | increase the heart rate and keep it elevated as |
| Spinal stenosis (when the space around the spinal | | | | well as increase the production of endorphins, |
| cord and nerve roots becomes narrow. This is | | | | which are pain fighting hormones released by the |
| caused by arthritis and bone overgrowth, the pain | | | | body. |
| resulting from when a nerve gets pinched in the | | | | Here are some examples of low impact aerobic |
| narrow space.) | | | | exercises that you may want to try in order to |
| Spondylosis (a type of arthritis affecting the spine | | | | lessen or reduce lower back pain: |
| due to degenerative changes brought on by | | | | -Walking |
| aging) | | | | One of the simplest forms of aerobic exercises, |
| Spondylolisthesis (when one vertebra in the spinal | | | | walking is generally considered as very gentle on |
| column slips forward over another) | | | | the back. To get the maximum benefit from |
| Lower Back Pain: TREATMENT | | | | walking as a form of low impact aerobic exercise, |
| The treatment of lower back pain depends on | | | | walk two to three miles three times per week. |
| several factors, including the specific type of | | | | -Stationary Bicycling |
| lower back pain (whether it is chronic or acute) | | | | This form of aerobic exercise is less painful on |
| and the purported cause. | | | | the back since there is lower impact produced. |
| For instance, acute lower back pain is commonly | | | | This is beneficial for patients with lower back pain |
| treated with pain relieving drugs, such as | | | | who may find walking too painful. |
| analgesics, or some forms of exercises that can | | | | -Water Therapy |
| help relax the muscles. | | | | Sometimes referred to as aquatherapy, water |
| On the other hand, chronic back pain or one that | | | | therapy is simply doing exercise in the water. The |
| lasts for more than two weeks and is | | | | buoyancy works to provide effective conditioning |
| progressive may be caused by some underlying | | | | at the same time stress on the back is reduced. |