HOW BACK PAIN AFFECTS YOUR GAIT
A HOLISTIC HEALING PLAN
Whether your back pain started after a sudden injury or due to a chronic issue that has developed over time, it is common to interfere with everyday activities like walking. People with low back pain often walk slower than people without pain. In addition, the coordination of how you also walk changes. When you are in pain, you tend to walk “out-of-phase,” meaning the rotation of the pelvis and thorax are less synchronized. It is thought that you will do this out-of-phase gait to avoid significant (or fast) rotations in the back. It is also common for people in pain to have increased muscle activity on the painful side of their back. This change in muscle tension can influence your step length, step time, stride length, velocity, and cadence. At Superior Physical Therapy, our physical therapist can be the answer to helping you enjoy a life free of back pain. And the secret to success is learning to approach recovery one step at a time. HOW PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN HELP
Physical therapy can do wonders to relieve your herniated disc symptoms and help you ward off future bouts of pain or nerve problems. Your physical therapist will start by evaluating your condition carefully. We will discuss your medical history, any specific incident (such as a heavy-lifting mishap) that may have herniated a disc and analyze your symptoms in detail. Your personalized treatment prescription may call for a mix of physical therapy techniques. For instance, if your herniated disc has caused your back or neck muscles to seize up painfully, you may benefit from massage therapy to ease those spasms and make your muscles limber enough to exercise. Ice, heat, and laser treatments can also reduce pain and inflammation to the tissues surrounding your spine. Physical therapy exercises like core exercises help you build strength and stability in your lower back, thus reducing your pain and improving your function. Mobility exercises to help improve your range of motion and reduce your risks for future neck or back disc-related injuries. Anything you can do to keep musculoskeletal stresses and strains at a minimum will help you ward off disc issues in the future. We may recommend lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, proper nutrition, or improved workplace ergonomics to help you protect your spine. CALL TODAY Are you ready to take non-surgical action against your herniated disc symptoms? If so, contact Superior Physical Therapy today to schedule an evaluation. We can guide you through a safe, practical plan for regaining your quality of life!
When your back pain begins to interfere with your ability to move around freely, then you know it is time to start doing something about it. Physical therapists are experts at treating musculoskeletal problems like back pain and gait difficulties. Our physical therapist will look at you as a whole person rather than a single issue. We will assess your particular condition to identify the contributing factors and address all of them. We understand that trying to resolve back pain without addressing the difficulty of walking will not provide the solutions you need for long-term success. WHAT TO EXPECT AT PHYSICAL THERAPY Your physical therapist will perform a thorough physical examination and provide you with solutions that work based on the findings. Physical therapy treatments are effective at improving your pain levels and the way you walk. When you are experiencing recurring back pain—especially if you are experiencing back pain while walking—you should consider ways to reduce back pain by taking small steps to support your back. You can do several things at home to improve your stride, which can make a significant difference when it comes to managing back pain day-to-day. CALL OUR CLINIC TODAY Call Superior Physical Therapy today for a comprehensive assessment of your back pain and your gait. Working with our physical therapists to improve your walking technique can help you overcome back pain one step at a time. If you have a history of severe back pain that has changed how you walk, don’t hesitate to talk to our physical therapists. We offer the results you are looking for! Sources: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02236/full • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3048239/ • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0304395995001158 • https://sites.kowsarpub.com/jamm/articles/82816.html • https:// journals.lww.com/spinejournal/abstract/1993/09010/gait_analysis_of_patients_with_low_back_pain.8.aspx
You can find relief from your pain. Call Today or visit us at www.superiorphysicaltherapy.org We can help you live your life again, pain-free!
www.superiorphysicaltherapy.org
Made with FlippingBook Converter PDF to HTML5