28 May 5 Reasons You Need PT for Your Low Back Pain

Unfortunately, low back pain is so common that a majority of people will have it – over 80% of adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. It can range from mildly annoying to absolutely agonizing…and everywhere in between.

Low back pain is definitely more common as we age; previous injury, muscle weakness, loss of flexibility, body weight composition, genetics, and more all play a role in if (or when) we develop low back pain (LBP). That friendly work-team softball game that felt easy in your early 20s can be the same reason that you can’t get off the couch in your late 30s or 40s. Sometimes, you may not even know why you have sudden LBP. You may wake up one day and find yourself struggling to get out of bed without experiencing sharp, uncomfortable pain. Or a standard, normal task around the house can cause unexpected strain – and pain. And just because your best friend had some low back pain that cleared up with an ice pack, it doesn’t mean that you’ll be so lucky. Sometimes at-home treatment isn’t enough.

5 Reasons You Need PT for Your Low Back Pain:

1. To get an accurate evaluation. Unfortunately, because the internet is almost always a swipe or click away, most people do a quick online search. While sometimes helpful, we have seen many people led the wrong way by reading inaccurate or incorrect information on the internet. Sometimes you get that self diagnosis right – but more often than not, you end up anxious, confused, and still struggling with your symptoms. Seeing a physical therapist can ensure that you’ll get an evaluation based on what is going on with your body. Physical therapists are experts in the musculoskeletal system and will perform a thorough evaluation including: watching you move, listening to your history and symptoms, and a hands-on exam. No matter how impressive that message board post sounds, it’s no substitution for expert skills and training.
2. PT is Safe and Non-Invasive: Physical therapy can help treat the root of your problem, and doesn’t mask pain – like pain meds do. It is a frontline treatment for many different conditions and injuries, and can sometimes prevent the need for more invasive treatment like surgery. If surgery is indicated for your condition, physical therapy is also what will help you recover in a healthy way.
3. You don’t have to accept chronic pain. Most of us have busy lives filled with work, family, hobbies, sports, and more – and it’s easy to put ourselves last. Living with pain can dramatically affect quality of life, and it isn’t something that anyone should simply accept as their “normal.” Unfortunately, many people with low back pain have tried a variety of treatments over the years, often without success. The good news is that physical therapy may not be a total cure for your low back pain, but almost every patient sees improvement in their symptoms. And, when your low back pain is bad enough, improvement can make a world of difference!
4. To return to activities you want -or need- to do: Let’s face it, life doesn’t stop for injury. Even if you have major pain from your low back, you’ll likely still have a job to do, laundry to wash, dinner to cook, a yard to mow, kids or family to care for, and errands to run. If you’re regularly active, you may be sidelined while you treat your low back pain, which can add an extra layer of frustration. Working with a skilled physical therapist can help address your symptoms and focus on goals you set with your PT.
5. To reduce your risk of future injury: Your physical therapist is a movement expert and part of your treatment will focus on education about your unique condition. You’ll learn exercises and stretches to do at home, as well as risk factors, proper form in daily activities, and ways to help prevent your back pain from worsening or recurring. In addition to reaching your goals, it’s important to make sure you don’t end up back at square one. Working with a PT is a great way to safeguard your back from future pain by limiting your risk factors.

Ultimately, physical therapy is a low-risk, high-reward form of treatment for your low back pain. Unlike medication, it gets at the root of the problem vs. masking the symptom; and unlike surgery, PT is non-invasive. For folks with chronic low back pain, PT can be a real game changer. Many people mistakenly believe that physical therapy is most often used after surgery; however, PT is often a standalone treatment! At Body One, we even offer free injury screenings at each of our three locations. Those are a great option for someone concerned about a new injury, and allows for a brief 15-minute evaluation with one of our expert PTs.

You can also schedule an initial evaluation, which is a longer (typically 1 hour) appointment, and includes full history, physical evaluation, and discussion of your PT treatment plan. This would be standard PT and is typically covered by your insurance. (As with any medical provider, please verify your benefits.) Thanks to Direct Access laws, under most insurance plans you can schedule PT without a referral; after 42 days if you need ongoing treatment we will work with your physician’s office.

Don’t let low back pain derail your life – get Physical Therapy and get better! We have three locations serving Indianapolis: Fishers, North Meridian, and Zionsville. Call or click today!