Four reasons you may need physical therapy for lower back pain

Some minor soreness in the lower back is a normal part of life. However, long-lasting and intense lower back pain may be signs that you need treatment from professionals.

Treatments for lower back pain vary depending on the cause and severity. One treatment method that benefits many people with lower back pain is physical therapy.

Take a look at these four reasons why you should consider physical therapy if you have lower back pain. 

1. Physical therapy helps reduce pain

Pain is one of the primary reasons people visit physical therapists for lower back treatment, so reducing it is one of the main goals of therapy. Physical therapists have a lot of treatments that can help reduce pain in the lower back, including:

• Therapeutic exercises
• Gentle stretches
• Joint mobilization
• Soft tissue mobilization
• Posture guidance

2. Physical therapy helps improve strength and flexibility

Pain and stiffness in the lower back can cause the muscles to grow weaker and more tense. The pain itself may be the result of weakness and tension, so this creates a loop of increasing pain and stiffness that affects your daily life.

Physical therapists can guide you through gentle exercises and stretches to help improve strength and flexibility in your lower back, which helps reduce and prevent pain. 

3. Physical therapy reduces your dependency on drugs

People often turn to medication to treat pain in the lower back. While this might help with the pain, medication usually comes with unwanted side effects that impact your daily life. 

Physical therapists can help treat pain with natural techniques to reduce your dependency on medications for the pain.

4. Physical therapy reduces the need for surgery

Back pain that’s left untreated may eventually require surgery. However, physical therapy can treat your pain and stiffness to reduce the need for surgical intervention. This is beneficial because surgery is invasive, risky and requires a lot of time for recovery.

Still, if surgery turns out to be necessary, physical therapists play an important role in helping you recover afterward. 

Visit Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy for lower back pain treatment

Is chronic lower back pain making your daily life more difficult? Stop letting lower back pain get in the way of the things and people you love; talk to a physical therapist at Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy about your treatment options. Contact our team today for more information about treating lower back pain or to schedule an initial appointment.