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 Taylor Rehab 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 Taylor Rehab Physical Therapy to get started on the journey to lasting pain relief.
Say Goodbye to Pain – Get Started with PT Now!
Return to Taylor Rehab and Let’s Continue Your Journey to Wellness Together. Schedule Your Appointment Now!
April Word Scramble
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Answer Key
fools
showers
tulips
raindrops
caterpillar
garden
5 Health Benefits of Spring Cleaning!
- Allergy Symptom Reduction. A thorough cleaning can greatly reduce the amount of dust in your home, which is helpful considering dust mite allergies are the number one cause of bronchial asthma in the world. About 2.3 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma. A 2014 study found that cleaning and decluttering your home can help you avoid allergy symptoms and make you feel healthier.
- Cleanliness Produces Happiness. Maybe you don’t enjoy the process of cleaning, but the end result will leave you smiling. A 2010 study found that having a clean home can improve your mood and reduce your risk of depression. Studies also show that doing housework for 20 minutes can reduce stress and anxiety by up to 20 percent.
- Better Heart Health. If you’re looking for an easy way to support your heart health, just 30 minutes per day of light exercise (including low-intensity physical activities like household chores, vacuuming, mopping, and scrubbing floors) can decrease your risk of heart disease by 24 percent.
- Declutter and Do a Good Deed by Donating. An essential part of a successful spring cleaning is getting rid of old items that are no longer used or worn. Apply the rule of thumb that if you haven’t made use of something in a year, it’s time for it to go. Fill bags and boxes of things, then donate them to a local charity so they can still be beneficial to someone else. Giving to others is an act that is associated with greater self-esteem, lower stress levels, and overall happiness.
- Get a Better Night’s Sleep. Do you have trouble sleeping at night? In a recent poll, it was found that people who make their beds are 19 percent more likely to sleep well on a regular basis. Clean sheets with a fresh scent impacted 75 percent of those individuals polled. See what a difference spring cleaning can make by cleaning the clutter from your room and sleeping on some fresh sheets.
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Exercise of the Month
BENT OVER ROWS
Hold a weight in your hand. Slightly bend your knees and bend at your waist to bring your torso forward. Make sure your back remains flat and about parallel to the floor. Pull the weight towards you. Make sure your elbows stay close to your body. Slowly return to the starting position.
3 Sets, 10 Reps. (Materials needed: dumbbells)
Taylor Rehab Reviews 🌟
“Very friendly and professional. Returned me to a good quality of life 2 months after my knee replacement! Yes, there was pain involved, but never too much to handle. Great people to work with in my rehab! Thanks”
-Mike H.
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Fresh, flavorful, and light, this Mediterranean Chicken Salad is the perfect springtime meal that makes healthy eating feel effortless. Packed with bright ingredients and satisfying protein, it’s ideal for enjoying warmer days and staying energized.
Healthy Recipe
Mediterranean Chicken Salad
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 2 tbsp snipped fresh mint
- 2 tbsp snipped fresh basil
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 5 cups shredded romaine lettuce
- 2 cups cut-up cooked chicken breast
- 2 plum tomatoes, cut into wedges
- 1 (15 oz) can garbanzo beans
- 2 tbsp pitted Kalamata olives
- 2 tbsp crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
- 6 Whole kalamata olives
In a screw-top jar, combine lemon juice, mint, basil, olive oil, honey, and black pepper to make dressing. Cover and shake well. Place lettuce on a large platter. Top with chicken, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, the quartered olives (if using), and feta cheese. Drizzle with dressing. If desired, garnish individual servings with whole olives.
