In many ways, back pain can feel unavoidable. According to the National Institutes of Health, 80% of all adults report experiencing back pain at some point in their lives. This makes it highly challenging for anyone looking to avoid back pain entirely.
However, the type of back pain most people truly want to stay away from is pain that becomes chronic and debilitating. It’s quite common to strain your back from lifting a heavy object or overdoing it in a workout, but these relatively minor injuries can improve in a short period of time. Chronic back pain can go on for months and seriously affect your quality of life.
While there are many risk factors for back pain that are out of our hands, there are others that can be addressed. Physical therapists are specially trained in the structure and function of the back, which is why working with one can be highly beneficial if you’re looking to avoid back pain on a long-term basis.
How advice and treatment from a physical therapist helps you avoid back pain
Whether you’re worried about an episode of back pain becoming chronic or you’ve dealt with it in the past and never want to deal with it again, a physical therapist can help. By performing assessments, including posture, movement and balance tests, your therapist can help you better understand optimal functioning for your back. He or she can also give you advice on ways to promote the long-term health of the spine and back as well as specific treatment methods to get you there.
Basically, the goal is to relieve as much of the immense pressure we place on the back as possible, while also actively strengthening supporting muscles. Specific ways to accomplish this include:
- Therapeutic exercises to promote both strength and flexibility
- Manual therapy to mobilize soft tissue, provide deep muscle release and relieve tension
- Posture and balance training to increase stability and evenly distribute weight throughout the back
Your physical therapist will also talk to you about the importance of regular exercise, a healthy diet and other habits for avoiding back pain.
Solid advice and proven treatments from our back pain experts
For more than 20 years, we’ve been serving Whatcom County with patient-centered care that is designed to get people back to a healthy and active lifestyle. If you want advice on how to avoid back pain and find treatment that is customized for your needs, our expert therapists can work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that is built on education and proven techniques.
Contact us today to learn more and schedule your initial appointment.
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