Back pain and neck pain can originate from many different causes and conditions. Likewise, the severity and duration of the pain are different for everyone. Every physical action we take has an effect on the body and no two of us are alike.
Physical therapy is a helpful option for helping to alleviate all kinds of back and neck pain. PT harnesses the healing power of your own body and optimizes your recovery based on how the muscles and nerves work. Surgery involves the risks associated with any invasive procedure, plus pain and downtime as you recover. In addition, back and neck pain are not always solved even when a surgical procedure is successful.
Orthopedic physicians recognize the many benefits of physical therapy for back and neck pain, and how PT can often relieve pain and prevent its return.
Whatever the cause of neck and back pain, a trained and licensed physical therapist can help alleviate your symptoms and support the strengthening and healing of your body. Although specific techniques and plans are tailored to each patient, there are some general steps your therapist may take as you progress through your recovery.
The benefits of hands-on physical therapy are evident in the way spinal pain and injuries respond to the treatment. Manual physical therapy promotes healing by increasing blood flow to the injured area, bringing oxygen and nutrients to damaged and swollen tissues.
When the relief of acute pain in the early stages of recovery is a top priority, passive types of physical therapy may be called for, including the application of heat and cold, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound, or a combination of these and other methods.
In addition, depending on your injury or condition, you may have several sessions per week when you begin treatment where your therapist will help alleviate your pain and prevent any injury from worsening by educating you on activities or motions that should be avoided. This education on how to avoid harmful activities may also include proper posture and ergonomics for sitting or other prolonged activities. Some habits can be hard to break but knowing which activities can cause pain and injury is a good step toward recovery.
No PT plan would be complete without supervised and take-home exercises that will strengthen your muscles in the injured region and those that support the area. Learning and performing exercises that strengthen the core muscles can alleviate pain, improve posture and increase overall health. Even in cases where long-term mobility is reduced, exercise generally improves muscular and vascular health and maximizes the patient’s ability to perform regular activities.
Following the initial period of physical therapy to address your back and neck pain, follow-up appointments will allow the physical therapist to assess your progress and make any adjustments to your home exercise plan.
Suburban Physical Therapy is one of the only independently owned centers in the Brecksville and Twinsburg, Ohio area that offers one-on-one physical therapy from caring and experienced physical therapists. Call our Brecksville office at (440) 746-1730, or call our Twinsburg office at (330) 963-2920. Same-day appointments are available.