Is the source of your low back pain a mystery? You’re not alone: Nine out of 10 patients don’t know the primary cause of their back pain. The problem is that most people seek treatment after they’ve begun exhibiting symptoms of back pain. While this may seem logical on the surface, our therapists at Fast Track are here to tell you that there’s a better way.
The key is to go to a physical therapist before you begin to see the signs and symptoms of back pain. I’m sure that right about now you’re asking, “Why would I do that?” One, because our physical therapists are trained to recognize the physical dysfunctions that may one day lead to back pain. And two, because eight out of 10 Americans suffer from low back pain at some point in their lives, so the chances are good that you could become a statistic one day.
Seeing one of our physical therapists at Fast Track is one of the most effective ways to prevent back pain from occurring in the first place. Doesn’t that sound like the better alternative? Great, now that you’re on board, let’s talk about what you can expect during that physical therapy appointment. The first time you go, your physical therapist will collect a complete picture of your medical history. During subsequent visits, it’ll be important to update your physical therapist about any changes in pain that you are experiencing.
Next, your physical therapist will perform an examination using a variety of tests and measures. This gives your PT the ability to see how your back, hips, core, shoulders, knees and ankles perform during a series of carefully selected exercises.
The information gathered during an evaluation helps your physical therapist to identify changes from one appointment to the next, a critical step in assessing your back pain and a host of other debilitating conditions. If a problem is identified early enough, then your physical therapist is better equipped to discuss preventive measures and will design a personalized plan of care just for you.
Treating back pain is only one of the multiple conditions we treat at Fast Track Physical Therapy. If you or someone you know is dealing with back pain and cannot contribute it to an injury or specific cause, we can help!
