Back Pain

Physical Therapy for Back Pain

Back pain can make even simple movements difficult, from getting out of bed and sitting at work to exercising, lifting, or enjoying your usual activities. It can develop suddenly after an injury or movement, build gradually over time, or persist without one obvious cause.

Physical therapy can help many people with back pain improve mobility, build strength, manage symptoms, and return to the activities that matter to them. At Lattimore Physical Therapy, your treatment is based on your individual symptoms, movement, activity level, and goals rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

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What Is Back Pain?

Back pain can occur anywhere along the spine, but lower back pain is especially common. Symptoms can involve the muscles, joints, discs, nerves, and other structures of the back, and the experience can vary significantly from person to person.

Some people experience a dull or aching sensation, while others have sharp pain, stiffness, muscle tightness, or symptoms that travel into the buttocks or legs. Back pain may also make certain movements or positions uncomfortable and limit your ability to complete everyday activities.

Acute vs. Chronic Back Pain

Back pain is often described based on how long symptoms have been present.

Acute Back Pain

Acute back pain develops relatively recently and may occur after an injury, lifting or twisting movement, increased activity, or without an obvious cause. Many episodes improve over time, but physical therapy may be helpful when pain or limited movement interferes with normal activity.

Chronic Back Pain

Back pain that persists for an extended period may be considered chronic. Chronic back pain can affect more than comfort alone, sometimes making it difficult to exercise, work, sleep comfortably, or participate in everyday activities.

Chronic pain can involve many factors, so treatment is individualized based on your symptoms, movement, function, and goals.

Common Causes of Back Pain

There isn’t always one identifiable cause of back pain. Symptoms can result from an injury or changes involving muscles, joints, discs, or nerves, and sometimes several factors contribute at once.

Common conditions and factors associated with back pain include:

Muscle Strains and Sprains

Muscles and other soft tissues in the back can become irritated or injured during lifting, twisting, sports, work activities, or sudden movements. Symptoms may include pain, tightness, muscle spasms, and difficulty moving comfortably.

Disc-Related Back Pain

The discs between the vertebrae help absorb forces and allow the spine to move. Changes or injuries involving a spinal disc may contribute to back pain and, in some cases, symptoms involving nearby nerves.

Sciatica and Nerve-Related Symptoms

Sciatica describes symptoms associated with irritation of the sciatic nerve or related nerve roots. Symptoms may include pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that travels from the lower back or buttock into the leg.

Not all leg pain associated with back pain is sciatica, which is one reason an appropriate evaluation is important when symptoms persist or affect your ability to move normally.

Arthritis and Age-Related Changes

Changes involving the joints and other structures of the spine can contribute to pain and stiffness. Arthritis may also affect spinal mobility and make certain movements or activities more difficult.

How Back Pain Can Affect Movement and Daily Life

Back pain can affect much more than your back. Pain, stiffness, weakness, or fear of aggravating symptoms may change how you move throughout the day.

You may notice difficulty with:

Sitting or standing for extended periods
Bending, lifting, or carrying
Getting in and out of bed or a chair
Walking or climbing stairs
Exercising or playing sports
Completing physical work or household tasks
Sleeping comfortably
Returning to normal activity after an injury

Avoiding movement for long periods can also make returning to normal activity more difficult. A physical therapist can help you determine appropriate ways to move and gradually build your strength, mobility, and activity tolerance.

Can Physical Therapy Help With Back Pain?

Physical therapy can help many people with back pain improve movement and function, manage symptoms, and return to everyday activities.

Your physical therapist will evaluate your symptoms and how your back moves, along with factors such as strength, flexibility, posture, balance, and movement patterns. Your treatment plan can then be tailored to what is limiting you and what you want to get back to doing.

Rather than simply addressing where you feel pain, physical therapy focuses on improving your overall ability to move and function comfortably and confidently.

Physical Therapy Treatments for Back Pain

Treatment for back pain varies depending on your symptoms, evaluation, and goals. Your physical therapist may use a combination of approaches as part of your individualized treatment plan.

Therapeutic Exercise

Therapeutic exercise may be used to improve strength, flexibility, mobility, and movement tolerance. Your program may include exercises targeting the muscles that support your spine, hips, and surrounding areas, as well as movements designed around the activities you need or want to perform.

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy includes hands-on techniques that may be used to address joint or soft-tissue mobility, stiffness, and movement limitations as part of your overall treatment program.

Therapeutic Modalities

Depending on your symptoms and treatment plan, your physical therapist may incorporate appropriate therapeutic modalities alongside movement, exercise, and hands-on treatment to help manage symptoms during rehabilitation.

Spinal Decompression

For some patients and certain types of back pain, spinal decompression may be considered as one component of a broader physical therapy treatment plan. Your physical therapist can determine whether it is appropriate based on your evaluation and symptoms.

When Should You See a Physical Therapist for Back Pain?

Consider seeing a physical therapist when back pain is interfering with your movement, work, exercise, sleep, or everyday activities, particularly when symptoms aren’t improving as expected or continue to return.

Physical therapy may be helpful if you are:

Having difficulty bending, lifting, walking, sitting, or standing
Experiencing recurring episodes of back pain
Returning to activity after a back injury
Experiencing weakness or reduced mobility
Having difficulty participating in work, exercise, sports, or hobbies because of back pain
Preparing for or recovering from a procedure or surgery involving your back

Find Physical Therapy for Back Pain Near You

You don’t have to let back pain keep you from the activities that matter to you. At Lattimore Physical Therapy, our physical therapists provide personalized, hands-on care designed around your symptoms, needs, and goals.

With locations throughout the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes regions, you can find a Lattimore clinic convenient to you and start working toward moving and feeling better.

Find a Lattimore Physical Therapy location near you →

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is a health care profession that involves evaluating, diagnosing and treating disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The goal of physical therapy is to focus on movement in order to restore function, minimize pain and improve an individual’s quality of life. Physical therapists often utilize treatment modalities such as therapeutic exercise, soft tissue mobilization, ultrasound, electrical stimulation and other treatments to help achieve these goals.

Do I Need a Referral?

The state of New York has “direct access” to physical therapy, which means that patients are not legally required to have a physician’s referral to see a physical therapist. However, some insurances may require patients to have a referral or authorization before they will approve payment. Be sure to contact your insurance company beforehand and determine the process that they require.

It’s important to know that if you are under the care of a physician and require physical therapy treatment, you have the freedom to choose your own physical therapy clinic.

Do You Accept My Insurance?

We accept most major insurance coverages. If you don’t see your insurance company listed above, reach out to us, and we’ll let you know if we accept yours. At the time of scheduling your first appointment, we request that you provide us with your insurance information so that we may verify your benefits and coverage.

How Can I Pay for Treatment?

We accept payment via cash, check, flex spending card, and debit or credit card (Visa, Mastercard and Discover). Payment is expected at the time of treatment and typically required during check-in. If you have insurance coverage, there may be a deductible or copay required.

Before your first visit, we will contact your insurance company to verify your benefits for physical therapy. Some insurance providers have restrictions on specific treatments. As a courtesy, Lattimore Physical Therapy files with your primary insurance as well as any secondary coverage. You will be billed for any cost share (if applicable) after your insurance has paid their portion.

What Should I Expect During My First Visit?

During your initial visit, your physical therapist will provide you with a thorough 45-minute to one-hour evaluation in a private room. Please be prepared to discuss your needs, your pain, and any lack of mobility or function that you currently have. This evaluation will involve certain range-of-motion, postural and strength tests to help your physical therapist develop a plan unique to you and your condition.Treatment for your injury will begin on the day of your initial visit.

How Should I Dress?

You should wear loose-fitting clothing during each session with us. Loose-fitting clothing helps us access and move the areas of the body that are being treated. If you have a knee problem, it is best to wear shorts. For a shoulder problem, a tank top is a good choice. For low back problems, a loose-fitting shirt and pants are the best go-tos.

Do I Need to Bring Any MRIs or X-rays That I Have?

Please bring any relevant MRI or X-ray interpretation reports from your physician’s office. However, since X-rays and MRIs aren’t always the most telling, your physical therapist will want to also take into account your medical history and other physical tests and measures. Their goal is to perform an evaluation as best they can using a thorough series of processes.

How Many Visits Will I Need?

The number of visits necessary to complete treatment varies from patient to patient. Some patients only undergo a couple of sessions, while others need several months of care. It most often depends on your diagnosis, the severity of your impairment(s), your past medical history and other similar factors. You will also be reevaluated on a monthly basis. Each time you visit your doctor, we will provide you with a progress report with our professional recommendations.

Can I Bring My Child With Me to My Appointments?

Yes! Our policy allows for children to accompany their parents during appointments.

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