The calendar year is flying by and it’s nearly time for winter sports season to being. Perhaps this time of year you are spending your weekends racking up an endless coating of leaves in your yard. If you work at a desk, it’s likely you forget the importance of proper posture as you lean forward with crouched shoulders, trying to get one more email done before your next meeting. Sometimes all it takes is bending over to remind us how limiting back pain can be. Here are five physical therapist-approved tips to help you overcome back pain.
Physical Therapist Tips If You Suffer from Back Pain
The human body is capable of an extraordinary range of physical actions. Unfortunately, this amazing structure is prone to injuries from time to time. What might start as a mild ache can snowball into more significant pain that can result in a restricted range of motion, making even the smallest actions too painful to contemplate.
Motion is lotion, so get up and move!
The key to getting more movement in your day is to just do it. It really doesn’t have to be more complicated than that! Make a plan, set goals, and recruit a friend, family member, or neighbor to join you on your quest for more movement. Park further away at the grocery store, choose the stairs over the elevator, and there’s always biking, hiking, walking in your neighborhood, kayaking, swimming…the list goes on and on. All of them are great options!
Keep up with your exercise program!
A well-balanced body is a healthy body. If you want a stronger back, ensure you include all the other muscle groups you use when lifting, pushing, pulling, etc. That means you shouldn’t forget about your abdominals, legs, and arms.
Practice proper posture
Right at this very moment- FREEZE. Let’s do a posture check. Where is your head, are your shoulders back, how are you holding your cell phone, if you are at a desk, how is your workstation? Poor posture is a major contributor to back and neck pain. Perfecting your posture starts with awareness. Tell your coworkers and family members to catch you with a picture so you can see what you really look like. Want some posture tips? Read this blog!
Call your physical therapist at the first signs of pain
Physical therapists are musculoskeletal experts who are uniquely qualified to identify the root cause of pain and provide tailored treatment to help you recover quickly.
Practice what your PT preaches!
As much as your physical therapist enjoys working with you, they do not want to see you year after year for the same back pain. If you buy into the care plan during your visits, and continue your home exercise program after your discharge, you actually possess the tools to continue your wellness beyond discharge from physical therapy.
Resolve Your Back Pain with the Physical Therapy
Put your MVPT physical therapist on speed dial and give them a call at the first signs of an issue. If you do experience a bump in the road, returning to their care at the first sign of pain can help reduce the length of your care and enable you to restart your exercise routine sooner. Don’t settle for being a spectator- get back to what you love with help from MVPT!
Submit the form below or call any MVPT location to schedule your evaluation!
Sources:
