How Physical Therapy Can Help Relieve Lower Back Pain
Posted on: 28 February 2023
Physical therapy exercises can be a great way to help relieve lower back pain. Your physical therapist will work with you to develop an individualized exercise program based on your fitness level, medical history, and current condition.
These exercises have been designed to stretch and strengthen the muscles around your lower back and improve flexibility to reduce strain on the area. Read on to learn more about how physical therapy can help you manage and reduce your lower back pain.
Postural Training
Postural training involves strengthening the muscles in your core and improving your balance, coordination, and flexibility. This helps strengthen the muscles that support your posture and reduce strain on the spine. Also, postural exercises can help improve muscle control, range of motion, and body awareness.
A typical postural training program will include stretching exercises and specific strength-building exercises. Stretching helps to loosen tight muscles while breaking up scar tissue that has built up over time due to poor posture or other underlying conditions.
Strengthening exercises engage core muscles like the abdominals, lower back, glutes, hips, and hamstrings. These exercises help create stability in the lower back area by teaching good habits for standing and sitting for extended periods.
Your physical therapist will also focus on correcting posture and teaching you ideal postural positions for different activities. This helps reduce stress on the lower back and prevent further pain or injury.
Manual Therapy
Manual therapy is a type of physical therapy that involves hands-on manipulation and massage to help with pain relief. This therapy helps improve flexibility, reduce inflammation, and increase the range of motion.
Manual therapy includes a variety of techniques, such as deep tissue massage, joint mobilization, soft tissue manipulation, and myofascial release. All these techniques put pressure on the muscles and joints in the lower back area to help relieve tension and reduce pain.
In some cases, your physical therapist may also use electrical stimulation combined with manual therapy to relieve pain. Electrical stimulation helps to relax the muscles and stimulate blood flow, which can reduce inflammation and help with healing.
Physical therapy is an effective way to help manage and reduce lower back pain. Your physical therapist will work with you to create a customized exercise program that includes postural training and manual therapy to help improve your overall strength, posture, and flexibility. With the right treatment plan and commitment to regular exercise, you can reduce your lower back pain and live an active, healthy life.
For more information on low back pain physical therapy, contact a professional near you.
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