Can Physical Therapy Prevent Back Surgery? Expert Insights
Back pain is one of the most common ailments afflicting thousands of people every year. Whether from poor posture, weight lifting, injuries, or accidents, chronic back pain impairs daily living extensively.
However, many people ask the crucial question: Can physical therapy for back pain prevent back surgery? The answer is yes in many cases.
Discover how physical therapy can help your case, how it works for back pain relief, and when to choose not to have surgery.
What Causes Back Pain?
There are various reasons why someone experiences back pain. Many individuals pull muscles or have herniated disks, or they experience arthritis, spinal stenosis, or poor posture. Some are hurt from a fall or vehicular accident. Some develop back pain over time, little by little.
Chronic back pain or pain that lingers for weeks and months is usually diagnosed by doctors and physical therapists using several modalities. There are several treatment options for back pain, ranging from medications and injections to surgery. However, surgery is often the last resort, as most doctors suggest physical therapy first.
What Is Physical Therapy for Back Pain?
Physical therapy for back pain is a conservative approach to treatment that minimizes surgical intervention while decreasing pain, enhancing function, and returning you to activities of daily living as safely and efficiently as possible.
Physical therapy for back pain involves working with a trained and licensed medical professional known as a physical therapist who understands how the body's muscles, bones, joints, and nerves interact, most typically with an emphasis on the spine and associated structures.
When you visit a physical therapist for back pain treatment, they will initially evaluate your situation. This means that they will review your symptoms and assess your movement, positioning, and strength to determine the cause of the injury.
For example, is your back pain stemming from poor posture, muscle imbalance, injury, or chronic low back pain due to arthritis or herniated disks?
Once the physical therapist determines the source of your pain or discomfort, they will create and execute a treatment plan based on your needs and goals. Generally, treatment protocols include:
Targeted Exercises
Exercises to strengthen the back, core, hips, and legs; with a strong core, the spine is better supported, and strain/musculoskeletal injuries are minimized. These exercises are often progressive. You will start with the easiest exercises and gradually increase intensity as your back pain and strength improve.
Stretching Programs
Stretching programs help loosen tight muscles, especially in the low back, hamstrings, and hip flexors. This treatment program can increase flexibility, reduce stiffness, and improve range of motion.
Posture Training
Since much back pain results from improper sitting or standing positions, relearning how to sit at a desk or stand in line can alleviate tremendous pressure on the spine and surrounding musculature. Your physical therapist will help you with posture correction techniques and also teach you proper posture for several day-to-day tasks.
Manual Therapy
Manual therapy helps loosen tight muscles and improve blood circulation to the back. It also restores function to the spine and surrounding muscles. This therapy involves several hands-on techniques, such as massage and soft tissue mobilization, or manipulation.
Patient Education
Your therapist will educate you on how to carry out your daily activities, such as getting out of bed or lifting a box, to avoid straining or re-injuring your back.
Pain Management Techniques
Physical therapy modalities like heat or cold therapy, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound can help manage and relieve pain. Your therapist will recommend the best modality based on your symptoms. These modalities are safe and aim to reduce pain and inflammation.
How Physical Therapy Prevents Back Surgery
Surgery is usually a last resort. It is invasive, requires extensive rehabilitation, and can cost a fortune. Fortunately, physical therapy offers a non-surgical approach to alleviating pain and restoring function in the following ways;
Pain Relief and Management
Back injury treatment, like physical therapy, includes modalities like heat or ice, massage, and electrical stimulation to provide natural pain relief. Heat therapy involves the use of heat, which helps promote blood circulation and loosen stiff muscles. Ice therapy, on the other hand, consists of the use of ice to reduce swelling and inflammation. Depending on your symptoms, your physical therapist may use either heat or cold therapy, and in some cases, they may use both modalities.
Massage therapy and electrical stimulation also target your soft tissues, promoting blood circulation and improving pain.
Increased Strength
If the back is weak, all other muscle groups compensate and place strain on the spine. Strength-based therapeutic exercises allow for stability in the back while simultaneously helping other muscle groups to avoid future injury.
Increased Mobility
When people do not move properly, excessive strain is placed on the back. Physical therapists teach proper body mechanics to alleviate undue stress on your spine and back, relieving pain.
Posture Improvements
Poor posture is one of the leading causes of back pain. A physical therapist can help improve your posture and help you unlearn poor postural habits by teaching you how to sit, stand, and lift correctly.
Prevention of Re-Injury
Without checking the cause of back pain, you are prone to further back pain even after treatment. This is especially true if the cause of your back pain is your daily habits. Your therapist will help you return to your daily activities and teach you the proper way to do them to prevent re-injury.
They may also recommend aids and an adjustment of your environment to reduce the risk of a reinjury.
Real Results - Physical Therapy Works
A large portion of people with back pain actually get the best results with just physical therapy. For example, people with herniated discs and sciatica not only experience significant pain relief, but may be able to avoid surgery when they complete their treatment. Generally, with early intervention, physical therapy reduces the need for surgery.
When is Surgery Still Needed?
As much as physical therapy can help many people and reduce the need for surgery, not everyone is an ideal candidate. Some circumstances necessitate surgery, including:
- People with back pain resulting from a spinal fracture or tumor
- There is bowel or bladder incontinence
- The weakness or numbness in the legs worsens
These are the circumstances that would indicate surgery, yet even in these cases, physical therapy is still essential for recovery and rehabilitation.
How to Start Treatment for Back Pain
Consult with your doctor regarding your low back pain or find a physical therapist specializing in back injuries. Most physical therapy facilities will offer you an assessment to determine your condition and recommend a course of action with treatment intended for you. For optimal success, find a therapist who
- Has experience with back pain
- Provides manual and exercise therapy
- Teaches you about posture and body mechanics
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, not all cases of back pain require surgery. In many cases, physical therapy can help ease the discomfort associated with back pain. It also helps improve function and facilitate a return to daily activities.
You should consider physical therapy for your back pain because it is a long-term treatment that focuses on improving your posture and strength. It also helps prevent the likelihood of reinjury while promoting spinal alignment.