Physical Therapy Treatments for Back Pain

Physical Therapy Treatments for Back Pain
By Brennan Howe
Physical therapy uses different techniques, such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, cryotherapy, massage, exercise, and heat in order to relieve muscle spasms, increase flexibility, strengthen muscles, relieve pain, and accelerate the healing process.  A study in The New England Journal of Medicine found that the effectiveness of physical therapy for low was about the same as that of chiropractic treatment and better than no treatment at all.

Physical therapists must graduate from an accredited physical therapy program, many of which offer master’s and doctoral degrees along with bachelor’s degrees.  Most schools require two to four years of pre-physical therapy coursework before admittance.  Like other physical treatment programs, physical therapists spend time in both the classroom and medical settings before graduation.  After graduation, they must take exams to become licensed, and some states require continuing education to maintain that license.

After it is determined by a doctor or back specialist that you are a candidate for physical therapy—some time between two to six weeks after the onset of low or sooner if the pain is severe or recurs frequently—you will meet with the therapist to determine the best plan of treatment for you.  You will be asked how your back pain developed, how long you’ve had it, whether or not it’s recurring, what actions make the pain better or worse, and any relevant medical history you have.  The therapist will also give you a physical exam of your spine movement, muscular flexibility, sitting and standing posture, muscle strength, reflexes, respiration, motor function, and repetitive movements.  From there, he or she will determine which treatments will be best for you.  There is some trial and error involved, so if one treatment doesn’t work to alleviate pain, the physical therapist may try something different.

There are basically two types of physical therapy, passive and active. Passive therapy is done to you and includes heat, cryotherapy,