Low Back Pain
Low back pain is one of the most common diagnoses our physical therapists treat – and for good reason!
Over 80% of Americans will experience an episode of low back pain at some point during their lives1. Physical therapy is an effective, safe, and cost-conscious way to treat this condition and help people get back to living their best lives. While there are many treatment options for handling back pain, physical therapy should be considered a first line of defense. Common causes of low back pain include:
- Daily activities or work activities that require bending at the waist
- Lifting more than 10 pounds several times per day (boxes, purses, grocery bags, children)
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Poor sitting posture (probably the most common cause)
- Poor lifting mechanics
- Poor flexibility/ joint mobility
- Activity that involves rotation of the spine (golf, tennis, gardening, raking leaves, etc.)
- Starting a new exercise program (walking, running, exercise classes, etc.)
According to a study published in Health Science Research, patients who saw a physical therapist first when they started experiencing back pain, compared to patients who waited to see a physical therapist or never saw one at all, had the following results2:
- Lower out-of-pocket costs
- Lower pharmacy costs
- Lower outpatient costs
- 87% less likely to need an opioid prescription
- 28% less likely to need imaging services
- 15% less likely to make an emergency room visit.
Not only are there financial benefits to using a safe alternative such as physical therapy, but research shows that the sooner you come in for an appointment, the faster you will recover.
Request an appointment today and take control of your back pain!
