Five reasons people need physical therapy for back pain

causes of back pain

It’s not uncommon to suffer from minor back pain once in a while. It can be caused by a number of activities, such as bending over too often to pick up objects or sitting and standing with poor posture.

In these minor cases, back pain can be treated with some simple rest and home remedies. Severe back pain though will require much more.

Severe back pain may be the sign of a serious condition or injury that needs medical attention. If you have back pain that is severe, long-lasting and is accompanied by other symptoms, like numbness or weakness, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately. Ignoring this kind of serious pain can result in increased pain or a more serious condition like permanent disability.

Common types of back pain treated by physical therapists

The physical therapists at Whatcom Physical Therapy are licensed healthcare professionals who are skilled in treating all kinds of back pain, including some of the most common ones like:

  1. Muscle strain — Sitting, standing or sleeping with poor posture and overactivity can cause strain in the muscles in your back. This causes pain because it results in a lack of support for your spinal column, increasing the pressure of your body weight on your spine.

  2. Herniated disc — One of the soft discs between the vertebrae in your spine can slip or burst, which puts pressure on the nerve in your spine that causes prolonged pain.

  3. Arthritis — Some types of arthritis can cause the cartilage in your spine to wear down, which creates friction between your vertebrae. Other types can cause the spinal column to narrow, which puts pressure on the nerve in the spine.

  4. Fracture — Blunt trauma or bone weakening conditions like osteoporosis can lead to fractures in the spine.

  5. Sciatica — Your sciatic nerve is a long nerve strand that runs from your lower back down into your legs. This nerve can grow irritated from poor posture and other causes, including some of the ones above, which causes pain in your lower back and one of your legs.

Contact Whatcom Physical Therapy for back pain treatment

Are you suffering from some form of severe or chronic back pain? The physical therapists at Whatcom Physical Therapy can help reduce your pain and restore strength and mobility. Contact us today to discover your treatment options.