Neck & Back Pain…Why do you have it?
Spine pain is the number one orthopedic reason people visit their physician. The causes of spine pain are diverse and dependent on several factors including:
- Lifestyles - Our bodies are an accumulation of trauma over a lifetime. What we do for a living, how we play, and how we take care of ourselves either makes us less susceptible or more prone to spine pain. Examples include: sedentary jobs which can contribute to postural dysfunctions, lack of exercise which can contribute to muscle strength & flexibility dysfunction.
- Mechanism of Injury – Especially with acute traumas, mechanism of injury may not only help the healthcare practitioner identify soft tissue involved but also enable more effective plan of treatment.
- Length of time a person has had pain or re-occurring symptoms - In the case of the majority of our population who wait to see the physician hoping the pain will go away on its own, it is not uncommon to see people that have been dealing with spine pain for several years. These populations of “chronic pain” usually have developed compensations and now have more extensive areas of involvement besides the original site of pain.
- Past medical history - Co-morbidities such as HBP, diabetes, history of stroke or heart disease can delay healing time or be a contributing factor to current pain status. Also, other orthopedic issues such as past surgeries, pelvic floor dysfunctions, GI (gastrointestinal)/visceral dysfunctions, and history of accidents from falls or auto-related can also play a factor in pain.
These factors can affect the integrity of various soft tissue of the spine including: muscle, spinal arteries & veins, spinal ligaments & nerves, spinal discs, and facet joints. The disruption of these tissues can cause spine related symptoms such as neck & back pain, “radicular” symptoms to the arm or leg including pain, numbness/tingling and/or weakness.
Can Physical Therapy Help?
Yes! Many times a conservative regiment of physical therapy can aid in quicker recovery and return to prior functional status. Common diagnoses that may benefit from therapy include but are not limited to: herniated discs, sciatica, ligament or muscle strains/sprains, osteoporosis, degenerative joint or disc disease, arthritis, scoliosis.
What is a Typical Treatment for Spinal Pain?
Depending on your diagnosis and deficits found during your initial evaluation, physical therapy will include a combination of manual therapy, core strengthening, postural re-education, stretching & mobilization including Mulligan and McKenzie based treatment approaches.
Manual Therapy: This “hands-on” portion of therapy can include a number of techniques. All techniques are geared toward decreasing pain, normalizing joint movement and overall spinal movement, increasing circulation to dysfunctional tissue & decreasing healing time, improving spinal alignment/symmetry and improving surrounding muscle function.
Core Strengthening: A common finding in many people seeking physical therapy is “core” weakness of the muscles providing stability for the back including the abdominals and lumbar musculature. Providing therapeutic exercise and strengthening to the identified weak muscles can create better support for the back and decrease pain. Strengthening can also give added support to hyper mobile joints.
Postural Re-education: Postural dysfunction can be a contributor to spinal pain. Exercises geared toward enhancing postural awareness can not only improve spinal alignment but give the patient an improved way to move for daily activities.
Stretching & Mobilization: “Tight” muscles or restricted joints can be addressed during therapy sessions. The Mulligan & McKenzie based theories used in our clinics make for an easy transition to home exercises that can help the person control pain away from the clinic. This not only empowers the person with pain but allows for quicker results.
