| Physical therapy is most often prescribed for | | | | |
| patients with permanent disabilities, | | | | One of the most common ailments for those |
| recovering from a major injury or accident, | | | | seeking physical therapy is back pain. |
| or suffering from conditions such as | | | | According to the American Chiropractic |
| arthritis or lower back pain. Some diseases | | | | Association, 31 million Americans experience |
| or conditions can impair patients to a degree | | | | low-back pain at any give time. It is one of |
| that a physical therapist must teach the | | | | the most common reasons for missed work and |
| patient to function with the limitations of | | | | is the second most common reason for visits |
| the condition. Under the guidance of a | | | | to the doctor's office. |
| therapist, patients can regain a major share | | | | |
| of their mobility, achieve flexibility, and | | | | A series of complicated structure of bones, |
| acquire balance and coordination. At its very | | | | joints, ligaments, and muscles, the back can |
| core, physical therapy can help significant | | | | easily experience a sprain or ruptured disk. |
| improve the overall fitness and health of a | | | | Sometimes the simplest of movements, such as |
| patient. | | | | bending over to pick a pencil up off of the |
| | | | floor, can have painful results. Poor |
| As with any treatment, the effectiveness of | | | | posture, obesity, and stress can also cause |
| physical therapy requires the full | | | | or complicate back pain. |
| participation and adherence to the physical | | | | |
| therapy treatment. Often, patients become | | | | While there is no single type of physical |
| proficient in their exercise regimen and make | | | | therapy which can alleviate chronic back |
| the assumption their recovery can be | | | | pain, it can offer a world of benefits. It |
| accomplished without the support and guidance | | | | can also prevent further problems before they |
| of their physical therapist. Such decisions | | | | arise. Overall, physical therapy can increase |
| can actually cause more damage to the | | | | function and improve the quality of life for |
| existing injuries. True physical therapy | | | | someone suffering from back pain. |
| requires time and patience to achieve the | | | | |
| best results. | | | | Rather than promising an instant "cure all," |
| | | | physical therapy teacher patients how to |
| Monitoring a patient's progress, trained | | | | manage their own pain. Patients learn to cope |
| therapists can correct any errors in | | | | with the pain while minimizing the impact of |
| posturing or practice by the patient. | | | | the pain in their lives. The best results for |
| Therapists will often make adjustments to the | | | | physical therapy come as a result of patients |
| exercise program as the patient improves in | | | | who can take control of their condition and |
| health and strength. Complete recovery is | | | | not expect a miracle cure. |
| achieved through diligence, compliance, and | | | | |
| dedication, which requires continued | | | | Increasing function and improving quality of |
| interactive between the patient and | | | | life through movement is the heart of PT, |
| therapist. | | | | according to Dr. Scott Fisherman, Chief of |
| | | | the Division of Pain Medicine and Associate |
| During treatment, a physical therapist may | | | | Professor of Anesthesiology at the University |
| use a combination of passive and active | | | | of California, Davis. After gaining a good |
| methods to bring about pain relief. These | | | | perspective on a patient's overall health, |
| include heat/ice packs, ultrasound, | | | | attitude, and daily routine, the therapist |
| low-impact aerobic conditioning, and | | | | can judge a patient's progress and control |
| stretching, to name a few. TENS therapy is | | | | over his or her own pain. |
| also an effective tool to manage pain. The | | | | |
| small, battery-operated device delivers | | | | Together, the patient and therapist will map |
| low-voltage electrical currents through the | | | | out a program of activities designed to |
| skin via electrodes placed near the source of | | | | address each of the impairments caused by the |
| pain. The electricity from the electrodes | | | | pain. The best sign of success of physical |
| stimulates nerves in the affected area, | | | | therapy is a noticeable improvement in a |
| sending signals to the brain that "scramble" | | | | patient's daily activities and the ability to |
| normal pain perception. | | | | reclaim a normal routine. |