At any given time, about 25% of people in the United States report having low back pain within the past 3 months. In most cases, low back pain is mild and disappears on its own. For some people, back pain can return or hang on, leading to a decrease in quality of life, or even to disability.
If your low back pain is accompanied by the following symptoms, you should visit your local emergency department immediately:
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Numbness in the groin or inner thigh
- Recurrent – acute symptoms come back
- Chronic – pain lasting longer than 3 months.
There are 3 different types of low back pain:
- Acute – pain lasting less than 3 months
- Recurrent – acute symptoms come back
- Chronic – pain lasting longer than 3 months.
HOW A PHYSICAL THERAPIST CAN HELP
Physical therapists can teach you how to use the following strategies to prevent back pain:
- Use good body positioning at work, home, or during leisure activities.
- Keep the load close to your body during lifting.
- Maintain a regular physical fitness regimen—staying active can help to prevent injuries. If you are having low back pain right now:
- Stay active, and do as much of your normal routine as possible (bed rest for longer than a day can slow down your recovery).
- If your pain lasts more than a few days or gets worse, schedule an appointment to see your physical therapist.
- Manual therapy
- Specific strengthening and flexibility exercises
- Education
- Use of ice or heat treatments or electrical stimulation to help relieve pain
- Ask for help before lifting heavy objects.
- Training for proper lifting, bending, and sitting; for doing chores both at work and in the
- Assistance in creating a safe and effective physical activity program