Don’t Ignore Your Lower Back Pain!

March Newsletter

Are you someone who pushes through those mysterious aches and pains that crop up occasionally? Do you just assume your lower back pain will get better on its own? While this can work out, it’s not a guarantee. If you’re struggling with back pain, make an appointment with Elevate Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine and seek the treatment you deserve.

Lower back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal ailments globally, with an estimated 80% of people experiencing it at some point. But just because it’s a common experience doesn’t mean it can’t cause complications: around 23% of the world’s population suffers from chronic back pain, pain that lingers for longer than three months.

The good news is that physical therapy can resolve most cases of back pain through techniques like manual therapy and therapeutic exercise — no surgery or dangerous pain medications are required. Even better, our therapists can often help you improve your back strength and mobility so your back functions better than before your injury.

But to get to that point, you have to take the first step and make an appointment with the physical therapists at Elevate Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine.

Need a little extra push? Keep reading to learn why you shouldn’t ignore lower back pain.

Three Reasons to Seek Treatment for Lower Back Pain

1.

It could get worse.

People develop lower back pain for all kinds of reasons. If you suffered a sudden injury, your pain might indeed resolve on its own. But sudden injuries aren’t the only cause of back pain.

Many people will develop back pain due to prolonged sitting, which can contribute to a weakening of the core muscles that stabilize the spine — and puts undue strain on your lower back. Your pain will never fully resolve until you work to strengthen those muscles and address those postural issues.

2.

It could indicate a serious underlying condition.

Not all back pain results from an injury or poor posture. Certain medical conditions, such as spinal fractures, osteoarthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, can all cause back pain. If left untreated, your symptoms will get worse, and they might bring friends, such as restricted mobility or additional complications.

Our team of physical therapists can help you determine the exact cause of back pain and suggest appropriate treatment methods. If you have developed a chronic condition, we can help you manage your symptoms and work with you to delay the disease’s progression.

3.

You deserve a pain-free life.

Back pain may be common, but it can also be debilitating. Intense, persistent pain can keep you from staying active, which only worsens your symptoms and delays healing. It’s a vicious cycle that keeps you from fully enjoying your life.

Rather than waiting for your pain to resolve, take a proactive approach with physical therapy. We’ll give you the tools to build strength, improve your posture, and get moving — so you can experience lasting back pain relief.

How Does Physical Therapy Help with Back Pain, Anyway?

When it comes to back pain, movement is definitely the best medicine. Research repeatedly shows that regular exercise can reduce back pain and keep it from occurring.

The problem is that exercise might feel like an impossibility when you’re in pain. That’s why physical therapy is such an excellent treatment option: we make movement the center of our treatment.

Once you’ve decided not to ignore your back pain, give Elevate Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine a call. Here’s what we’ll do to help you find relief:

Prevent future pain. We’ll also help you avoid future incidences of back pain by instructing you on proper lifting techniques or offering ergonomic suggestions for your workspace.

Find the cause. Our in-depth physical assessments will help us identify precisely why you’re experiencing back pain, allowing us to develop a customized treatment plan.

Manage pain. We offer several drug-free techniques for managing pain so you can get moving again. Manual therapy, gentle mobilization exercises, and pain-relieving modalities can get you started.

Get moving. We’ll provide a tailored exercise program that suits your needs, interests, and ability levels. We can also help you strengthen your core muscles, ensuring your spine is well supported.

Today’s the Day to Stop Ignoring Your Back Pain!

Want to take action? The first step is simple: contact Elevate Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine to schedule an initial consultation. Then wave your back pain goodbye as you embark on a journey to long-term relief!

Request Appointment

Our Patients Get Great Results

“In the past 9 months I have had the pleasure of working with Rebekah twice in recovering from not 1, but 2 total knee replacement surgeries. The combination of her knowledge, expertise, and kindness is a winner — she twice took me from using a walker to full range of motion in my knee. Each session she was constantly assessing performance and changed up exercises as needed to ensure my continued progress. I highly recommend not only Rebekah, but the entire team at Elevate, and will definitely return should I need physical therapy in the future!”

— Neil

CONGRATULATIONS!

Ryan Received his Level 2 Certification in Functional Dry Needling

Ryan has been using dry needling as part of his physical therapy practice for several years and was ready to complete this course to build on his previous dry needling certification. It focuses on using dry needling techniques in more complex regions of the body including the spine, trunk, chest, hands and feet. Ryan successfully completed additional in-depth instruction in neurophysiology supporting the use of dry needling. Along with the additional coursework, hands-on application and certification of Functional Dry Needling in these complex regions of the body was successfully attained. This level 2 certification is especially helpful when treating patients with TMJ, plantar fasciitis, thoracic (mid back) pain, and neck pain with headaches.

All of our physical therapists are Functional Dry Needling certified which is unique compared to other physical therapy clinics. Please call our office if you would like to schedule an appointment to see if you are a candidate for dry needling in the management of your musculoskeletal issues.

Sitting is the New Smoking

3 Tips For Staying Active

Think about your typical day. How much of it is spent sitting? If you’re like most people, the answer is – a lot. We sit at our desks for work. We sit in a car to run errands. We sit on the couch to watch TV at night.

All this sitting is having a big impact on our health. In addition to contributing to back pain, prolonged sitting raises our risk of heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer.

Fortunately, you don’t have to train like an Olympic athlete to counteract the negative effects of sitting – all it takes is a few simple tweaks to your day!

Tip 1: Take frequent breaks. If you have a desk job, set a timer to remind you to get up every 30 – 60 minutes to move around. Take a few minutes to grab some water, walk around the office, or stretch.
Tip 2: Stretch while you watch TV. If you love to relax in front of the TV, incorporate some stretches as you watch your favorite shows.
Tip 3: Pick up a new hobby. Movement-based leisure activities are a great way to incorporate movement into your day – and you aren’t limited to sports, either. Gardening, dance classes, and walking groups are all excellent options.

Want to learn more about the risks of sitting – and how to avoid them? Schedule an appointment with Elevate Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine today!

Request an Appointment

Conquer Your Back Pain and Enjoy a Pain-Free Spring

As the world awakens this spring, don’t let back pain keep you from enjoying the season’s beauty. At Elevate Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, we’ll help you find the spirit of spring by resolving your back pain once and for all!

Our expert guidance will help you:

Alleviate your pain and prevent future discomfort.
Regain your mobility and strength so you can enjoy the warmer weather.
Spend time with your friends and family without back pain standing in your way!

Our treatments are tailored to your unique needs to help you enjoy spring with confidence and vitality — reach out today and let us help you bloom pain-free!

Request Appointment

Exercise of the Month

Shoulder External Rotation

Stand upright, holding an exercise loop in both hands in front of you. Gently pull your hands apart in a pulsing motion while raising your arms overhead, then lower them back down.

Watch our video of Colton demonstrating the exercise!

Exercise Video

Feel Better by Eating Better!

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

This Crockpot White Chicken Chili offers comfort and satisfaction, courtesy of its creamy texture and healthy ingredients. The slow cooker keeps it breezy and hands-free!

Place chicken in the bottom of a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add the chicken broth, white beans, green chiles, garlic, onion, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or high for 2 to 4 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken breasts to a plate. Once cool enough to handle, shred and set aside.

With an immersion blender, puree a portion of the chili to thicken it, leaving some of the beans whole. (If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can instead transfer a few ladlefuls of the chili to a food processor or blender and pulse roughly, then return back into the chili.)

Stir in the shredded chicken and cilantro. Portion into bowls and top with a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Add any other desired toppings and enjoy.

https://www.wellplated.com/crockpot-white-chicken-chili/

Ingredients

1 1/4 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts (2-3 breasts)
4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
2 (15-oz) cans reduced-sodium white beans such as white kidney, navy, cannellini, or Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
2 (4.5-ounce) cans diced green chiles
3 cloves garlic minced
1 small yellow onion (or 1/2 large) finely diced
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Fresh lime wedges