Is Back Pain Interfering With Your Everyday Life?
Here’s How One of Our Patients Got Back to the Things He Loved the Most
The chances are very good that you’ll experience back pain at some point in your life. You might lift a piece of furniture that’s a little too heavy for you. You might develop pain from prolonged sitting. Or you might just notice a “random” back pain that likely stems from repetitive or awkward movements.
No matter the source of your back pain, physical therapy with Elliott Physical Therapy can help you find relief. We know that when you’re in the throes of debilitating pain, pinpointing the underlying cause is probably the least of your concerns. But to our team of experts, understanding the cause is the first step in helping you get the treatment you need.
To illustrate this, let’s look at a story from our files. Daniel developed back pain that was dramatically impacting his day-to-day life. It kept him on the couch during the day and wide awake at night–but our therapists helped him find lasting relief.
Meet the Patient (And His Back Pain)
Daniel was a computer programmer in his late 30s who spent his workday tapping away on his computer keyboard. In his spare time, he enjoyed playing board games with his buddies, taking his German shepherd to the dog park, and whipping up meals for his girlfriend.
One day, Daniel was digging out a dead shrub in his backyard when he felt a sudden spasm in his lower back, followed by a sharp jolt of pain. He stopped for the afternoon, but the pain hadn’t receded the next day. Or the next.
Daniel’s back pain was intense enough that it didn’t just cause pain; it also impacted his mobility. Forget digging out a shrub; now, Daniel could barely walk his dog! And while the pain lessened somewhat while he was sitting, it was still bothersome enough to distract him from work.
Enough’s Enough: Daniel Visits a Physical Therapist
Eventually, Daniel’s girlfriend told him he needed to seek treatment. She suggested he try a physical therapist, as she’d had a good experience with physical therapy after her own back injury.
At the PT clinic, Daniel shared his symptoms and noted that the pain had started while he was doing yard work. His therapist also guided him through several movement screens, testing Daniel’s range of motion and strength.
By the end of the appointment, Daniel’s therapist had determined that Daniel likely had an issue with his lumbar discs (the cushions found between vertebrae) from digging out the tree root; he’d twisted his body while lifting a heavy clump of dirt, damaging his discs.
However, part of the reason Daniel suffered the injury was because the muscles in his back and core were weakened due to his sedentary job. Without strong core muscles to support his spine, he was more susceptible to injury, particularly when performing manual labor without any conditioning or warmup.
A Personalized Treatment Approach
Daniel’s physical therapist didn’t want to just mask Daniel’s symptoms. He wanted to resolve the underlying injury and help Daniel prevent future injuries. To accomplish this, he created a customized treatment plan that walked Daniel through the following steps:
- Relieve acute pain: Manual therapy techniques like back mobilization and soft tissue manipulation offer an all-natural alternative to pain medication.
- Restore mobility and build strength: A therapeutic exercise program helps address the underlying muscular weakness that set Daniel up for an injury in the first place. By building up the strength in his back and core, Daniel was able to provide more stability and support to his spine.
- Address lifestyle factors: Another factor in Daniel’s injury was his sedentary job. His physical therapist offered suggestions to help offset the prolonged sitting involved in computer programming, including taking stretching breaks every 30 minutes and investing in a standing desk.
- Prevent another injury: Finally, the therapist showed Daniel how to use proper technique when working in the yard and suggested some warm-up methods the next time Daniel needed to perform strenuous movements.
Say Goodbye to Back Pain Today!
Does Daniel’s story resonate with you? Just like him, you don’t have to suffer! Schedule an initial consultation at Elliott Physical Therapy to get started on the journey to lasting pain relief.
Is Back Pain Interfering With Your Everyday Life?
Take this quick interactive challenge and see which everyday factors may be contributing to your back pain and how it may be affecting your life.
How does your back usually feel after a long day?
What tends to make your back pain worse?
How much does your back pain affect your everyday activities?
What happens when you try to do something physical?
What’s your biggest goal right now?
Your results are in.
Your answers can offer useful clues about factors that may be contributing to your back pain and how it affects your everyday life.
Back pain can be influenced by several factors at once. A thorough physical therapy evaluation can help identify the contributing factors specific to you and develop an individualized plan.
Start Your Recovery →This interactive challenge is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Individual symptoms and treatment needs vary.
Just like Daniel…
Back pain doesn’t have to keep you on the couch or prevent you from doing the things you love. Daniel’s turning point came when he sought physical therapy and received a personalized treatment plan designed to address his pain, restore his strength and mobility, and help prevent another injury.
Celebrate National PT Month:
Keep Moving, Keep Living
Mobility is an important part of staying active, independent, and ready for the moments that matter most.
Most people know the importance of strength when it comes to doing what you love, especially as you get older. However, mobility is essential, too. After all, maintaining mobility can make it easier to bend down in your garden, sit on the floor with your grandkids, or walk your dog all over the neighborhood.
With October being National Physical Therapy Month, the team at Elliott Physical Therapy encourages you to make movement a priority! Maintaining mobility throughout life can support independence, physical function, and overall well-being.
Your body was made to move.
Our bodies are made to move, and regular physical activity helps reduce the physical decline that often comes with long periods of inactivity.
Fortunately, you don’t need an intense workout routine to support your mobility. Small, consistent efforts count.
Try These Simple Strategies To Boost Mobility
Small movements throughout your day can add up to meaningful habits that help you stay active and engaged.
Move Throughout the Day
Take short walks, use the stairs when appropriate, or stand and stretch after sitting for extended periods.
Practice Balance
Simple balance exercises, such as heel-to-toe walking or one-leg stands, can challenge your balance and help improve stability and reduce fall risk.
Keep Your Joints Moving
Gentle mobility exercises, such as cat-cows or hip circles, can help you maintain a comfortable range of motion. Bonus: they’re great to do in front of the TV!
Choose Activities You Enjoy.
Fun activities like hiking, gardening, or dancing can all help you stay active. When you’re having a good time, it’s much easier to stay consistent!
Keep moving today.
Keep living tomorrow.
At Elliott Physical Therapy, we believe movement is an important part of a healthy, active life. Our team is here to help you get moving today so you can keep doing what matters to you tomorrow. Schedule an appointment with us to learn more!
Schedule an Appointment →Say Goodbye to Back Pain Today!
7 Halloween Safety Tips for a Spooktacular Night
7 Simple Ways to Keep Halloween Safe
A little preparation can go a long way toward preventing injuries and helping your family enjoy a fun and memorable Halloween.
Carve Safely — or Not at All!
Children should never handle sharp knives, so parents and caregivers should always take responsibility for pumpkin carving.
For a safer alternative, let kids decorate pumpkins with paint and stickers instead of carving them. Just make sure any paint or decorating materials are nontoxic.
Make Costumes Safe
Costumes are the centerpiece of Halloween, but the wrong fit or design can increase the risk of trips and falls.
- Avoid baggy or dragging costume pieces.
- Choose bright or easily visible costumes.
- Avoid masks that limit peripheral vision.
- Choose comfortable, properly fitting shoes.
Be Seen on the Streets
Halloween means more pedestrians and more traffic. Make visibility a priority as your family heads out for trick-or-treating.
- Walk on sidewalks instead of in the street.
- Cross only at labeled crosswalks.
- Add reflective tape to costumes and bags.
- Carry glow sticks or flashlights.
- Use strollers or wagons for younger children.
Be Alert Behind the Wheel
Drivers have an extra responsibility on Halloween. Children are excited and may move unpredictably, so slow down and stay especially alert.
- Drive slowly through neighborhoods.
- Stay off your phone.
- Take extra time at crosswalks and intersections.
- Turn on headlights before it gets fully dark.
- Watch for children between parked cars.
Don't Get Distracted
Excited kids can be less attentive and more unpredictable than usual. Adults need to stay focused and keep their attention on their surroundings.
Safety reminder: Keep your phone away while walking and avoid getting so caught up in conversations that you lose track of the kids around you.
Stick Together
If older kids are trick-or-treating without an adult, make sure everyone knows the plan before heading out.
- Agree on the route ahead of time.
- Stay together as a group.
- Never leave anyone alone.
- Stay aware of traffic and surroundings.
- Keep phones away while walking.
Avoid Tummy Aches
Halloween candy can be hard to resist, but too many sweets can lead to stomachaches, constipation, nausea, and vomiting.
Encourage kids to take it easy with their Halloween haul and monitor how much candy they eat during and after Halloween.
A little moderation can help keep the fun going long after trick-or-treating ends.
Don't Forget to Have Fun!
Halloween is meant to be enjoyed. Take the right precautions, stay alert, and give your kids plenty of opportunities to enjoy the costumes, decorations, neighborhood fun, and family memories.
Safe + fun = a spooktacular Halloween!
Ingredients
- 1 (32-ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 large French baguettes, sliced into 1-inch slices (about 36 slices)
- 1½ pounds fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced ¼-inch thick
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a food processor, combine the drained tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and 2 garlic cloves. Pulse until smooth but still slightly chunky.
- Season the tomato mixture with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast for about 3 minutes.
- Rub the toasted side of each slice with the remaining garlic cloves.
- Top each slice with a piece of fresh mozzarella and return to the oven for about 45 seconds, just until the cheese softens.
- Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the tomato mixture onto each slice.
- Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with fresh basil leaves, and serve immediately.
