Tired of Dealing With Neck and Back Pain? Learn How We Can Help.
Have you noticed that back pain limits basic activities like sitting, lifting, or bending? Do you notice difficulty turning your neck when you drive? Are you frustrated that your back or neck pain never seems to go away? At Comber Physical Therapy, we offer well-researched interventions and clinical experience to guide our patients to successful outcomes!
Back and neck pain are widespread conditions that many people struggle with throughout their lives. According to the National Institute of Health, back pain is one of the most common reasons people see a doctor or miss days at work.
Even school-age children can have back pain. Neck pain is also a significant issue, with over 65% of all people experiencing neck pain at some point in their lives.
For some, the lucky ones, the back or neck pain lasts just a few days. For others, the pain lingers for years and never really heals or goes away.
Sometimes we can identify the exact reason for back or neck pain, for example, after a particularly grueling day of yard work or at the end of a work day of prolonged postures. But often, the main reason seems to be no apparent reason.
At Comber Physical Therapy, we are experts at treating back and neck pain and have solutions that will work for you. Call today to schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained physical therapists!
What caused my neck pain?
There are many reasons why neck pain may develop, including everything from sudden incidents like a car accident or a slip-and-fall injury, to more chronic issues, such as regularly hunching over a desk at work with poor posture.
The majority of the time, neck pain starts as a seemingly small concern. Pain that develops due to a soft tissue sprain/strain or changes to the joint itself. Prolonged sitting can lead to a forward head position resulting in tension to soft tissue (i.e., muscles, tendons, and ligaments).
Our neck muscles function at their best when we move them. So holding our heads in one position leads to irritation of the muscles and affects your ability to move your head and neck . It also is what starts the cycle of chronic pain.
Learning to strengthen the upper back and neck muscles helps alleviate the pressure and simultaneously makes it easier to hold your head with proper posture. Working with a physical therapist to address neck pain is a wise decision!
What about my back pain?
Back pain impacts more than 80% of the population, and many deal with that pain long-term. One of the biggest problems with back pain is that it is difficult to work around it once it develops. Many people begin to modify their movements and, as a result, put more pressure on their muscles which eventually just leads to more back pain.
In the lower back, the muscles that support the spine are often called the “core.” When thinking of the core, think of an apple core…it goes all the way around. So the core muscles of the spine include:
- The abdominal muscles.
- The lower back muscles.
- Your buttock muscles.
- The muscles of the hips and pelvis.
Physical therapy can address back pain by helping to improve your spinal mobility and strengthen the muscles in your back and surrounding areas. Using targeted massage to reduce tension in the muscles makes your muscles more likely to respond to strengthening exercises.
In many situations, working with a physical therapist to improve core strength can significantly reduce the severity of your back pain.
How can physical therapy help my back and neck pain?
At your initial assessment, your therapist will take a thorough history and perform a physical exam. Our questions aim to find the root cause of your pain and identify any “red flags” that would indicate a more serious condition or warrant a different form of medical intervention. (i.e., fracture, tumor, infections, or systemic inflammatory disease).
Working with our therapists at Comber Physical Therapy can help you experience an improved range of motion, restore strength to the muscles in your entire back, and reduce tension in your lower back and/or upper back muscles through targeted manual therapies.
Our physical examination involves taking you through specific movements and tests to classify your condition correctly. Our therapists interpret this information to determine the most effective treatment options based on well-researched interventions and clinical experiences.
The evidence on back and neck pain is clear; physical therapy treatments are effective for acute and chronic conditions. Seeking help sooner than later can help you avoid lingering pain and may even prevent future episodes altogether.
Call Comber Physical Therapy today to find help for your condition!
Neck and back pain is not easy to deal with, no matter your age! The good news? Physical therapy has been proven to help with neck or back pain regardless of its root cause. If you’re suffering from neck or back pain, call one of our Williamsburg offices today to see how our team can help get you back to living a pain-free life.
Tags: physical therapy, physical therapist, Comber Physical Therapy, back pain, Neck pain, back pain relief, Neck Pain Relief
