Study Says That Exercise and Education Are Key to Preventing Low Back Pain
Four out of five Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Today, back pain management often includes the overuse of treatments like surgeries, MRI, x-rays and medications. And it’s an expensive prospect: The annual tally on low back and neck pain treatment in the U.S. is at least $87 billion, according to a study in theJournal of American Medical Association.
As it turns out, experts are testing less expensive solutions that aim to prevent occurrences of back pain in the first place, and the results are encouraging. A study called Prevention of Low Back Pain investigated the effectiveness of interventions like education and exercise in preventing low back pain. The key, according to the study, is the combination of exercise and education. Exercise alone is thought to make a difference, but when used in conjunction, exercise and education pack the most powerful punch.
The best avenue is to see a healthcare professional like a physical therapist who is trained to prevent and treat pain through movement and exercise, hands-on care and patient education. These movement specialists perform evaluations to assess your muscular, postural and skeletal limitations, and other factors that could one day contribute to back pain.
PTIS has proudly been caring for the metro Denver community since 1990. Our unified approach to physical therapy and wellness means that we treat specific physical issues while never losing sight of the overall goal of ensuring that each patient can live life without physical limitations or pain.
You probably equate physical therapists with exercise, but did you know that patient education also is a cornerstone of the physical therapy profession? Relying on their formal education and practice experience, PTs can provide insights and interventions that reduce excess body mass, improve health status and reduce associated chronic disease risk by increasing physical activity.
PTIS is a local company owned and directed by physical therapists. As a result of the knowledge, experience and expertise of our physical therapists, many have been recognized as leaders in their field and have been invited to lecture and teach at hospitals, businesses and universities across the country and internationally.
Not only is it easy to find physical therapists that lead evidence-based prevention and wellness programs right in your community, but once you’ve made an appointment, you’ll benefit from personalized one-on-one care and easy access. You can expect the PT to begin treatment by gathering pertinent information about your movement patterns, limitations, posture and other factors that might contribute to back pain. Once the physical therapist has observed as you
perform a series of exercises and gathered an account of your daily activity level and environmental factors like working at a desk 40 hours a week, she can teach you a few strategies to prevent back pain.
And with eight in 10 people experiencing back pain at some point in their lives, preventing incidences would not only take a huge chunk out of the staggering annual costs associated with treatments like medications and surgeries, but also ensure that people are on the road to better health.