Rec Center Physical Therapy

Aches or Pains limiting your daily activities in life?

Physical Therapists have the most specialized education to improve quality of life without surgery or prescription drugs.

Consider our expert care at Rec Center Physical Therapy as your first line of defense to address any limitations you may be experiencing.

Your First Visit

• Allow at least 1 hour for the first visit
• Child care available
• Arrive 10-15 minutes early
• Bring insurance card and doctor's referral/order if applicable
• All patients under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult
• Front row parking is available for our patients (next to handicapped parking)
• Bring or wear comfortable clothing to allow accessible treatment for your evaluation. (clinic may also provide you with clothing)

Low Back Pain

Definition

Nearly everyone has low back pain at some point in their life. Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on low back pain, the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. Back pain is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States - only headache is more common. Men and women are equally affected. It occurs most often between ages 30 and 50 due in part to the aging process but also as a result of sedentary life styles. The risk of experiencing low back pain from disc disease or spinal degeneration increases with age.

Acute or short-term low back pain usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Most acute back pain is mechanical in nature meaning that it is the result of trauma to the lower back such as from a work or sports injury or from a disorder such as arthritis. Chronic back pain is pain that persists for more than 3 months. It is often progressive and the cause can be difficult to determine.

Mechanism of Injury

Low back pain is usually caused by some combination of degeneration, overuse, muscle strain, and injury to the muscles, ligaments, and discs that support the spine, and repeated or prolonged poor postures and body mechanics. This leads to a constant tension on the muscles, ligaments, bones, and discs, making the back more prone to injury or reinjury.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the cause of low back pain but may include: low back pain, lower extremity pain/numbness/ tingling, lower extremity weakness, a decrease in reflexes, muscle ache, spasm, and tightness, and limited flexibility.

Physical Therapy Intervention

Rec Center Physical Therapy can be the first line of defense for those suffering from low back pain by offering treatments such as education regarding proper body mechanics and posture, exercises to address areas of weakness or tightness, spinal stabilization to improve core control, modalities to decrease pain and inflammation, and manual therapy such as mobilizations and myofascial work.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/backpain/detail_backpain.htm