Sources of Back Pain

At Breathe In Motion Physical Therapy and Wellness, back pain is one of many diagnoses that we treat and is so often misunderstood.

There are multiple reasons for back pain including manual or strenuous work, sitting or standing for long periods of time, or a sedentary lifestyle in general.  Additional causes for back pain may include injuries such as a fractured vertebrae or a ruptured disk, or an injury that affects another part of the body can also refer pain to different regions of the back.

A few of the more common diagnoses that we treat include:

• Spondylolysis - a fracture of the pars bone segment in the low back

• Spinal stenosis — a narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the nerves and spinal cord

• Lumbar radiculopathy — a compressed nerve in the lower back

• Cervical radiculopathy — a compressed nerve in the neck

• Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction - pain at the SI joint due to abnormal motion

• Scoliosis - a sideways curvature of the spine

Here are some additional things to know about back pain:

• Most episodes of back pain improve with physical therapy and functional strength training.

• Graduated movement, exercise, and progressive loading of the spine in all planes is beneficial for the spine.

• Pain flare ups are more likely due to change in activity, mood, or stress vs. structural changes in the spine.

• Back pain is not influenced by age.

Finding the root cause, early intervention, and treatment of back pain often leads to faster recovery and better outcomes.  Symptoms can be managed with full body and core strengthening, postural improvements, gait mechanics, and low-level impact exercises.  Our therapists at Breathe In Motion Physical Therapy and Wellness have the education and knowledge to address these diagnoses allowing you to return to your active lifestyle.