Lower Back Pain and Physical Therapy
Lower Back Pain (LBP) is second to the common cold in a list of ailments driving Americans to the doctor’s office.
Put Down the Pills! The American College of Physicians recommends non-drug therapy—including Physical Therapy for chronic back pain relief.
Here is the low down!
To prevent back pain, a Physical Therapist (PT) teaches patients how to:
- Maintain proper body positioning at work, home, and during leisure activities.
- Lift correctly by keeping the load close to the body.
- Request assistance when lifting heavy objects
- Adopt and follow a regular exercise program
So next time you have Back Pain – don’t pop that pill, but ask – who is a physical therapist near me?
Researchers have found that patients with LBP who received care from a PT first experienced lower out-of-pocket, pharmacy, and outpatient costs after 1 year and reduced their likelihood of receiving an opioid prescription by 87% compared with patients who never visited a PT.
Check out these stats
- More than 1/3rd of adults say low back pain has affected their ability to engage in tasks of daily living (39 percent), exercise (38 percent), and sleep (37 percent).
- Low back pain isn’t just for those who spend a lot of time on their feet. In fact, more than half (54 percent) of Americans who experience low back pain spend the majority of their workday sitting.
- Men (31 percent) are more likely than women (20 percent) to report that low back pain affects their ability to do work.
- When experiencing low back pain, nearly 3/4 (72 percent) Americans use pain medication as a way to relieve their symptoms. More than half (55 percent) said they use heat and cold packs at home for relief.
So – the next time you have LBP, check out some cool back pain relief exercises and see how not drug therapy – including posture modification, and exercise can help.
If you have questions, call us at 703-310-7610 or contact us today to see how we can help you!
