If you’ve ever had a backache, you know how much it can interfere with your day to day life. In fact, the American Physical Therapy Association estimates that two-thirds of adults in America have back pain that interferes with their ability to take part in daily activities. At Core Physical Therapy, we have an entire program dedicated to helping people improve their spine health.
In spite of its prevalence, back pain has a number of misconceptions surrounding it. Today, we’re going to address the most common ones:
Misconception 1: The spine is fragile.
The spinal system has a robust network of support, with the muscles, tendons and ligaments providing the strength, support and flexibility your back needs. Often, the thing causing back pain doesn’t have anything to do with the back at all. Since everything in your body is connected, this means that a change in one part can trigger a reaction in another. At Core, we can show you the stretches and exercises you need to promote good back health.
Misconception 2: I need rest to heal my back pain.
While a little bit of bed rest may help your acute pain, we don’t recommend you extend this past two days. You can actually increase your pain if you stay in bed longer than that. That’s because long-term bed rest or physical inactivity can cause your muscles to atrophy or stiffen. Soon, you will find yourself in a vicious cycle of being inactive because of pain but being in pain because of inactivity. At Core, we can help you break this by creating a therapy plan tailored to your needs.
Misconception 3: It’s genetic.
Back pain cannot be passed down from one generation to the next. However, certain lifestyle choices often are, and some of those choices can promote back pain. Even if you have bad biomechanics, adjusting postures and strengthening certain muscles can help you avoid back pain. See the experts at Core for what you can do to encourage good spinal health.
Misconception 4: It’s all in my head.
Your doctor may not have found an anatomical reason for your back pain, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. Issues in the fascia can trigger back pain, as can mental health disorders such as depression. At Core, we will work with you to find a treatment that gets to the heart of your pain. Our myofascial release and craniosacral therapy programs have been able to relieve patients who weren’t able to pinpoint a physical reason for their pain.
Core PT is here to help you feel better. In the state of Iowa, most insurance providers don’t require that you have a doctor’s referral to see a physical therapist. If you’re ready to end your back pain, make an appointment with us today!