4 Common Causes of Lower Back Pain & The Best Treatment Options

A close-up of an individual who is experiencing significant lower back pain. If you’ve suffered from lower back pain, then you’re part of over 500 million people around the world are have been affected by back pain at any one time. The lower back influences so many body movements that we don’t realize it until it becomes painful to even do simple tasks. While the lower back is extremely resilient, it can only take on so much damage until it becomes injured.

Many individuals suffer from chronic lower back pain that leaves them unable to perform everyday tasks. Understanding the reasons for lower back pain help shed some necessary light on managing lower back pain. We’ve compiled four common reasons why you may be experiencing lower back pain, as well as the suggested treatment methods we provide at Bethesda Physiocare.

Muscle Strain

Muscle strain is often seen as the most common reason individuals experience lower back pain. Strains occur when the muscles have been overloaded, resulting in potential damage. Overstraining the lower back can be caused by some of the most simple and unassuming tasks if there is already pre-existing damage. Strains can be exacerbated by lifting too heavy of weight without proper stabilization or sudden stress on the lower back. Interestingly, you do not need to have actual tissue damage to experience low back pain.

Arthritis

Age-related changes in the spine are perfectly normal as we move through the course of life. The lower back takes on a lot of the wear and tear our bodies experience, which can develop arthritis. The cartilage that sits between the joints in our lower back can start to thin over time resulting in inflammation of the joints, which in some cases, can cause back pain. The good news is that most age-related changes do not cause pain.

Back Injuries

Injuries, old or new, can make chronic lower back pain management a real challenge. Unfortunately, no one is excluded from the susceptibility of back injuries. A back injury can result from a sudden, traumatic accident or simply bending over wrong and tweaking the lower back.

Herniated Discs

Herniated discs are more likely to appear in the lower back than anywhere else. A herniated disc results from a disc spilling out of place and pressing into the spinal canal. Herniated discs can happen from repeated wear and tear or traumatic injuries to the lower back. Most herniated discs do not require surgery; chronic pain management is best achieved through extensive physical therapy.

Treatment Methods

Dry Needling: When muscles are overused or strained, they develop knotted areas called trigger points. Dry needling works to encourage blood flow and restore mobility by inserting dry needles into those trigger points, releasing the tension. Every member of the Bethesda Physiocare team is certified and trained in dry needling by industry-leading clinicians.

Manual Therapy: For those looking for a hands-on approach to treating lower back pain, manual therapy may be an excellent method. This form of physical therapy is one of the most tried and true ways to manage lower back pain.
Exergaming: Anyone suffering from back pain needs a progressive exercise program with increasing “loading” of the back muscles, resulting in a healthy and strong back.
Chronic Pain Management: Anyone suffering from chronic lower back pain needs to learn more about Bethesda Physiocare’s chronic pain management program. We aim to create a comprehensive pain management plan that alleviates your pain and provides long-term solutions to keeping your back healthy.

Finding Physical Therapy in Bethesda

Bethesda Physiocare is your local Bethesda physical therapist clinic ready to help you get back on your feet. Kick lower back pain to the curb when you partner with our team to find the right solutions for your pain.

We’ve helped countless people with our proven physical therapy programs get back to loving life without pain holding them back anymore. Managing lower back pain is difficult on your own; contact the Bethesda team today to get on the right track to a pain-free life.

What To Expect During Your First Manual Therapy Session

A young woman undergoing manual therapy at the base of her neck

When you suffer an injury or experience pain, your physical therapist sprints into action. Their job is to take the context of your injury, medical conditions, medical history, etc., assess the state of your muscles, joints, nerves, and other tissues, and work towards improving movement and mobility.

Physical therapists have several tools at their disposal, and as the discipline expands, new modalities become part of the PT’s arsenal. Manual therapy is another approach physical therapists use to achieve pain relief and better movement.

So, what can you expect from your manual therapy session?

We get into some of the details.

As leaders in the physical therapy arena involving manual therapies, dry needling, and other modalities, Bethesda Physiocare can help you get back to an active lifestyle. Call 301.205.5279 to connect with us today.

How Do Physical Therapists Use Manual Therapy?

While some might consider physical therapy and manual therapy interchangeable terms, most physical therapists do not see it that way. Historically speaking, manual therapies have a long history and appear throughout a variety of cultures. In the physical therapy world, manual therapy refers to a subset or subcategory of physical therapy. This approach is often part of a larger physical therapy program designed to help someone through an injury or recovery.

Physical therapists use manual therapy in specific instances—depending on the injury, the muscle involved, or the cause of a problem.

A physical therapist will first assess the root cause of the pain or the issue and determine whether manual therapy, exercises, stretching, or a combination of all of these will benefit you most.

Manual therapy can be beneficial for patients that are experiencing conditions such as:

Arthritis
Back pain
Osteoporosis
Hip pain
Knee pain
Stiff joints or muscle spasms
Whiplash-related injuries

Manual Therapy as Treatment

Once a physical therapist determines that your condition would benefit from manual therapy, they will proceed to use it. PTs will use manual therapy:

As an initial assessment tool. Manual therapy might first be used to assess the extent of joint motion, how much a nerve can adjust its length during activities, or how various muscles are functioning. With manual therapy, the PT can get a better idea of what may be contributing to your pain and dysfunction
Soft tissue work. With certain types of manual therapy, the therapist applies focused pressure to trigger points in muscles, or helps a muscle regain its normal length. Strategically applied pressure relaxes muscles, increases circulation, helps mobilize scar tissue and eases pain.
Mobilization/manipulation. Mobilization and manipulation refer to the application of movement and pressure at various speeds usually applied to joints of the spine or the extremities. This form of manual therapy helps with tension and pain relief.

What Does Manual Therapy Include?

Broadly speaking, manual therapy refers to hands-on therapy, but this can encompass a variety of modalities that approach the problem slightly differently. At Bethesda Physiocare, we employ manual therapies that include:

Trigger Point Therapy: This is a specialized technique to restore blood flow in muscles, reduce local and referred pain, and restore motion.
Fascial Techniques: Fascia has been recognized as one of the most important tissues in the body. Physical therapists may use a variety of fascial approaches, such as Fascial Manipulation® or myofascial release.
Exercise Therapy: Manual therapy is usually combined with supportive exercises under the guidance of an experienced clinician.
Pain Science Education: Understanding the nature of your pain and what you can do yourself is a critical aspect of manual therapy
Joint Manipulation/Mobilization: A physical therapist applies mobilization techniques on joints at different degrees and amplitudes.

What Should You Expect From Manual Therapy at Bethesda Physiocare?

A physical therapy clinic employs a wide range of approaches to help patients recover from injury or achieve relief from chronic pain. Your specific recovery plan will depend on the circumstances surrounding your condition or your injury.

So, depending on your problem, your PT might choose different techniques. When coming into the clinic expect to answer questions about your injury, any past medical conditions, past injuries, or pain areas.

You also want to be prepared to perform a series of exercises or tests that your PT might use to assess the areas of your pain and how best to treat them.

Want to Get Rid of Pain and Restore Mobility? We Can Help

Whether your pain is acute or chronic, physical therapy has a lot to offer to restore you back to an active lifestyle. One area of physical therapy is manual therapy, which is a hands-on approach to a variety of ailments that helps to strengthen muscles, restore mobility, and encourage blood flow to the area. If you’re in the Bethesda, Maryland area and suffer from pain, our physical therapists can help.

Want to learn more about how our physical therapists in Bethesda, MD can help you live pain-free? Call Bethesda Physiocare today.