Back and Neck Pain Archives - Synergy Rehab & Wellness

Physical Therapy Can Help You Treat Your Back Pain at the Source

Have You Been Living in Pain? Our Physical Therapists Have Got Your Back

Back pain is, to this day, one of the most common complaints among Americans. Whether you experience occasional pain in your back or deal with recurrent chronic back pain, it can make it extremely difficult to complete your daily tasks. But have you ever started wondering if your back pain was a sign of a more serious condition?

The spine is made up of a complex series of bones called vertebrae. There are cushioning pads between each of the vertebrae that act as shock absorbers, making bending, walking, and moving around in general every day without pain, possible.

But if these little cushioning discs are injured, the soft center can actually rupture and cause severe pain. This type of injury is often referred to as a herniated or slipped disc, and while there is no cure for the condition, physical therapy can help manage chronic pain.

Could a herniated disc be the cause of your back pain?

When experiencing back pain, it can be tempting to simply visit your general physician in search of a quick solution.

However, in many cases, all that a general physician can offer in the way of pain relief is a prescription for painkillers. Alternatively, an experienced physical therapist can offer a variety of treatment options that are designed to target the root cause of your reoccurring back pain.

Some of the most common treatment options recommended by our physical therapist for herniated disc pain include:

Ultrasound therapy or electrical muscle stimulation for fast pain relief and deep penetration of the targeted area
Alternating treatment with ice and heat to reduce inflammation and soothe sore muscles
Therapeutic massage to help ease sore muscles
Aerobic exercises like walking or using a stationary bicycle
Stretching exercises that help to keep the muscles in the back flexible

Common causes of herniated discs

The vertebrae and cushioning discs in the spinal column can become injured in a variety of different ways.

However, when dealing with a herniated disc, injuries are most often the result of:

Improper lifting resulting in sudden strain
Work-related or overuse injuries where the spine has been twisted violently
Excessive weight gain and obesity
The natural aging process or degeneration

Are you experiencing any of these common symptoms?

Herniated discs are one of the most common back pain complaints. They typically occur in people aged 35 to 55 years but can affect physical therapy patients of all ages. In certain cases, a herniated disc may show no outward symptoms at all.

But for those dealing with recurring pain from a herniated disc, the following symptoms are also common:

Neck spasms affecting the muscles in the neck and shoulder area.
Neck pain that stays centered in the back and side areas of the neck. This type of pain can increase in severity when bending or turning the neck.
Pain radiating out from the shoulder, arm, and sometimes traveling down to the hands and fingers.
Pain in the shoulder blade area.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, physical therapy can help. In fact, according to SpineUniverse,

“Physical therapy often plays a major role in herniated disc recovery. Its methods not only offer immediate pain relief, but they also teach you how to condition your body to prevent further injury.

There are a variety of physical therapy techniques. Passive treatments relax your body and include deep tissue massage, hot and cold therapy, electrical stimulation (eg, TENS), and hydrotherapy.”

Ready to find the relief you’ve been looking for?

If you have had recurrent back pain, or pain in your neck or shoulder, you may have a herniated disc.

According to The National Institute of Health, “The highest prevalence [of herniated disc cases] is among people aged 30-50 years, with a male to female ratio of 2:1. There is little evidence to suggest that drug treatments are effective in treating herniated discs.”

By using targeted treatments and physical therapy exercises, our physical therapist can help you manage your herniated disc pain and prevent the use of prescription drugs or more invasive treatment options.

Ready to learn more about how physical therapy treatments can relieve herniated disc pain? Contact Synergy Rehab and Wellness today to get started on the first steps of your treatment plan!

Are You Living With Back Pain? Chances Are, It Could Be From a Herniated Disc

Could Your Back Pain Be Caused By A Herniated Disc?

Do you sometimes feel pain like an electric shock radiating from your lower back down to your legs? Do you experience muscle weakness or numbness in your arms or legs?

If so, be sure to schedule a free consultation with our office for a proper diagnosis. Strange neck pains, back pains, or extremity symptoms can indicate a variety of potential problems – including one or more herniated discs.

Symptoms may also include pain on one side of the body, pain that radiates to the arms or legs, aching, burning sensations in the affected area, and pain with certain movements.

If you are experiencing any of those symptoms, you just may have a herniated disc. Fortunately, physical therapy can help relieve your herniated disc symptoms and help you move comfortably once again.

Herniated discs, defined

The vertebrae that comprise the spine are cushioned by discs. These discs are flat and round with an outer layer called the annulus, which surrounds a gel-like material called the nucleus. Discs are located in between each of the vertebrae in the spinal column. They act as shock absorbers.

Also referred to as a ruptured or bulged disc, a herniated disc occurs when the disc nucleus is moved out of the annulus and into the spinal canal. It’s important to note that the spinal canal has limited space, and this displacement often produces pain.

A herniated disc can happen anywhere in the spine, including the lower back and cervical spine areas. The area of pain often depends on which area of the spine that the herniated disc occurs in.

Why did my herniated disc develop?

Injury or strain can be the cause of a herniated disc. Sometimes, a predisposition for a herniated disc may exist in families.

In addition, the natural process of aging may be the culprit for a herniated disc. As one ages, the disc material degenerates naturally, and ligaments may tend to weaken. When this occurs, even a minor twisting motion can result in a herniated disc.

The symptoms of a herniated disc vary depending on the size of the herniated and where it’s located. If the disc isn’t compressing a nerve, there may be no pain.

If it is compressing a nerve, pain, weakness and numbness may travel to the part of the body that the nerve is pressing on. Often, there is lower back pain.

Sciatica may occur in the lower lumbar spine. This is when there’s pressure on the sciatic nerve. Sciatica can cause burning, pain and numbness that radiates from the buttocks, down the leg and the foot. It’s often a very sharp pain that may occur when sitting, walking or standing.

If a herniated disc occurs in the neck area, pain can result in the neck and between the shoulder blades. This pain may radiate down the arm and to the fingers.

Physical therapy treatments for herniated discs

A physician may recommend physical therapy. A physical therapist will conduct an in-depth evaluation and outline specific treatment for patients with herniated discs.

In addition to analyzing your symptoms and performing various tests and measures, a physical therapist can help you determine if you have a herniated disc by assessing your medical history and lifestyle.

We’ll look for risk factors known to be linked to herniated discs, including:

Acute trauma, e.g., auto accident or fall
Smoking
Obesity
Male gender
Age between 30 and 50
Frequent bending, heavy lifting, or twisting
Physically demanding occupation

Once the cause of your pain is clear, an individualized treatment plan will be created for you, based on your specific needs.

This typically includes a series of stretches and exercises aimed at relieving your pain, improving your function, and promoting the natural healing process of your body. Additional treatments may be added as your physical therapist deems fit. These include:

Ultrasound
Pelvic traction
Education on posture and lifting mechanics
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Class IV laser therapy
Traction
Ice and heat therapies
Manual therapy

According to research, physical therapy often plays a big role in herniated disc recovery. Physical therapy entails a holistic approach with both active and passive treatments.

Not only is pain relief a result of physical therapy, but a physical therapist will teach patients how to prevent further injury.

Ready to find relief?

Call Synergy Rehab and Wellness to schedule an appointment to discover how we can help reduce or alleviate your pain today.

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The Top 5 Benefits of Physical Therapy Treatments for Back and Neck Pain

Back and neck pain can have several underlying causes. For example, any changes in the spine’s anatomy can lead to back pain, such as lumbar degenerative disc disease, lumbar disc herniation, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, or osteoarthritis.

Lumbar degenerative disc disease occurs when the spinal discs experience “wear and tear,” typically due to aging. When the gel-like interior of the discs leak, irritation can occur causing lumbar disc herniation. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction happens when the sacroiliac joint has too much or too little motion, and osteoarthritis happens when the facet joints in the spine wear down and create friction.

Neck pain is most commonly caused by a muscle strain. This can occur in various ways such as whiplash, poor posture, or abnormal sleeping positions. Neck pain can also be caused due to cervical degenerative disc disease, cervical osteoarthritis, or a cervical herniated disc.

The pain associated with these conditions can range from moderate to severe, but physical therapy can luckily help ease most (if not all) of the pain. If you are suffering from back or neck pain, call Synergy Rehab and Wellness to schedule a consultation with one of our skilled physical therapists, and find out how physical therapy treatments can benefit you.

How will I be diagnosed?

If you’re experiencing back or neck pain, it is important to consult with your primary doctor right away. He or she will most likely perform a physical exam, and may want to take some x-rays or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test. With an MRI, your doctor will be able to clearly see your soft tissues, ligaments, tendons, and blood vessels, which can provide evidence of where your back or neck pain is stemming from. Once this is determined, your doctor will suggest a course of treatment, which will likely include physical therapy.

Back pain and neck pain can lead to a loss of productivity, and it is a common cause for disability. Because of this, it is important to seek the assistance of a medical professional immediately if you are suffering from back or neck pain.

How will physical therapy relieve my pain?

Physical therapy is an effective treatment for both back and neck pain. The goals and expected outcomes of these treatments include:

Reduction of pain and stiffness. By using passive treatments such as manual therapy, our physical therapist will help alleviate pain in the affected area and accelerate the healing process.
Development of strength. Our physical therapist will create a specific exercise plan for your particular needs, which will aid in the strengthening of muscles in the affected area.
Improvement of range of motion. Our physical therapist will implement flexibility exercises into your treatment plan, which will help increase the range of motion in your back and neck.
Prevention of further issues. By learning proper body mechanics, you can avoid future injuries and prevent pain from recurring.
Improvement of overall quality of life. Physical therapy can help you return to your normal routine much quicker, allowing for an overall improvement in the quality of life.

Your physical therapy treatments will be split into two categories: passive and active. Passive physical therapy treatments for back and neck pain may include ice and heat therapies, massage therapy, electrotherapy, or ultrasound. These help in relieving pain, stiffness, and inflammation. Active physical therapy treatments for back and neck pain may include any stretches and exercises that our physical therapist deems fit for your specific condition. Active therapy helps to increase strength and flexibility, in addition to relieving pain in the spine and affected muscles.

Why wait to begin your physical therapy treatments? Give our office a call today and begin your journey toward long-lasting pain relief!

Herniated Discs: Could This be Causing Your Back Pain?

Your spine is a complex part of the body. It is comprised of 24 bones, and 5 of them are located in the lower back. It is also comprised of numerous nerves and intervertebral discs. Sometimes, the jelly-like nucleus of these discs can “herniate,” or protrude, through the cell wall, if it is not strong enough. If this pressure continues, it could push through the outer ring and begin to bulge. Herniated discs occur along the spine, and they are most often found in the lower back.

Generally, lower back pain is the first symptom of this a herniated disc. Other symptoms may include numbness or weakness in the legs, shooting pain down the back of one leg, or loss of bladder control. Back pain can range from moderate to severe. If you are experiencing back pain and you think it may be the result of a herniated disc, call Synergy Rehab and Wellness today to see how physical therapy can help you get back to a pain-free life.

What causes herniated discs?

Herniated discs are typically associated with aging, as the spine begins to wear down and become more brittle. This is known as “disc degeneration.” The discs in the spine contain high water content when we’re young, but as we age that water content gradually decreases. This causes the discs to shrink. Therefore, the older we get, the more prone we become to disc degeneration. Other risk factors that can make you more prone to herniated discs include:

Being male.
Being overweight.
Being between the ages of 20-50.
Engaging in improper lifting techniques.
Driving frequently.
Engaging in a sedentary lifestyle.

How do I know if I have a herniated disc?

If you believe you may be suffering from a herniated disc, it is important to consult your primary care physician first. Your doctor will perform a physical exam to assess muscle strength and sensation to see if your disc is herniated, and he or she may also conduct a neurological exam.

If your doctor believes your disc is herniated, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may be done to confirm the diagnosis. From this scan, your doctor will be able to clearly see if there is a herniated disc in the lower back region. If the disc is putting pressure on the spine, it can be detected. Your doctor will then provide you with a treatment plan, and will likely recommend physical therapy for pain relief.

How physical therapy can help:

After going through an evaluation with our physical therapist, he or she will begin your treatment with passive physical therapy. Passive physical treatments include deep tissue massage, hot and cold therapy, hydrotherapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and traction.

Deep tissue massage utilizes pressure to relieve muscle tension and spasms. Hot therapy may be used to increase blood flow to the target area to accelerate healing. Cold therapy helps to reduce inflammation. Hydrotherapy relaxes muscles and brings pain relief. The TENS machine uses an electrical current that triggers the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers. Traction may be implemented to reduce pressure on the spine.

After your passive physical therapy is complete, our physical therapist will create an active treatment plan for you. This may include core exercises to strengthen your back, stretching and flexibility exercises to increase range of motion, and muscle strengthening exercises. Our physical therapist will also give you self-care advice that you can implement on your own, in order to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

Physical therapy has been proven to be effective for disc herniation. It is a non-invasive alternative to surgery and a natural way to relieve pain without the need for harmful drugs. If you are suffering from back pain or a disc herniation, give Synergy Rehab and Wellness a call to schedule an appointment today. Our experienced and certified physical therapists would be happy to help you get you started on your process toward long-lasting pain relief.

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Surgery Might Not be Your Only Option to Relieve Back Pain. Things to Consider Before Back Surgery

There are few more debilitating conditions than back pain. Ranging from a dull ache to excruciating, back pain can keep you from performing simple daily tasks you once enjoyed. While nearly 80 percent of adults experience back pain at some point in their lives, the treatments used to alleviate it are varied. Yet many people automatically think surgery is the best option to relieve back pain. Carrying high levels of risk and requiring months of recovery, back surgery is nothing to be undertaken lightly. Fortunately, surgery is not your only option to relieve back pain. Here are a few things to consider.

Physical Therapy for Pain Relief

Many people associate physical therapy with a post-surgical treatment plan. While it does play a vital role in helping patients recover once they have been under the knife, it is also an incredible tool for pain relief. A physical therapist can treat acute pain with manual therapies such as heat, ice, electrical stimulation, and massage. However, what most people don’t realize is that pain relief often requires strengthening the structures around the injury, not just treating the injury itself. If you are experiencing back pain, you may need to strengthen your core muscles in your abdomen and legs to help your back find relief. This process is not a fast one, but a physical therapist can show you exercises that are aimed at relieving your pain.

Physical Therapy for Better Movement

It is important to remember that a physical therapist is an expert in the way the body moves. We have a natural tendency to rest when we are in pain, rather than move. In reality, many people who experience back pain need to learn how to move better. Physical therapy can help you regain lost movement in your back and legs while decreasing your pain levels. A physical therapist can also show you how to prevent further injury in your daily life by teaching you how to bend, lift, stretch, sit, stand, or walk in ways that relieve your back pain.

Physical Therapy Before Surgery

If you are already planning on surgery to help alleviate back pain, you may already have a recovery plan that includes physical therapy. What you may not know is that physical therapy is a great way to prepare for surgery as well. Not only can it improve your cardiovascular function, physical therapy can strengthen the muscles and muscle attachments in areas that will already be weakened by surgery. Even a few sessions with a physical therapist have been shown to reduce postoperative care by more than 25 percent. Since most back surgery procedures require long periods of recovery, the idea of cutting it down by a fourth is appealing.

A physical therapist will evaluate your current condition and pain level. They will consult with your surgeon for more information and any imaging studies that are available. The physical therapist will then create a treatment plan aimed at immediate pain relief and strengthening the body in preparation for surgery. If you will need the use of your arms for balance, the physical therapist will help you strengthen your upper body in preparation. If you need better core strength to hold the structures of your spine in place, the physical therapist will work on strengthening your muscles without causing additional damage.

Whether you are considering surgery or already have a surgical date, call Synergy Rehab and Wellness to schedule a free physical therapy consultation and start experiencing relief.

How Do You Overcome Chronic Back Pain? Ask Our Physical Therapist

Did you know that approximately 80 percent of Americans have experienced (or will experience) back pain? That’s a depressing statistic, especially if you’re already one of those sufferers. Chronic back pain can prevent you from performing the countless daily tasks you need or want to perform. Even when you’re not engaged in activity, your back pain may be keeping you miserable 24/7. But don’t assume that drugs can provide more than temporary relief, or that surgery won’t create more problems than it solves. Instead, go with the healthy, natural way to kiss your back pain goodbye — through physical therapy.

Drugs and Surgery: Two Back Pain Solutions That Cause Fresh Problems

Back pain can be either acute or chronic in nature. Acute back pain often occurs as the direct result of torn muscles or other sudden, intense damage. But as agonizing as cute back pain may be, at least you have the comfort of knowing that your pain will probably subside as the injury heals. Chronic back offers no such comfort. By definition, any kind of chronic pain lasts for more than 3 months, either attacking you in bouts or plaguing you with constant discomfort. The underlying cause is often progressive and/or irreversible. Common causes of chronic back pain include:

Bulging or herniated discs
Chronic muscle strain from an unbalanced posture or weak back muscles
Degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis of the spine
A narrowing of the spinal canal known as spinal stenosis
An old back injury that failed to heal properly, leaving you with internal scarring and chronic stiffness

Drugs can relieve chronic back pain, but only imperfectly. After a few hours of lessened symptoms, you have to take another dosage, and then another. If you’re using opioids to dull your pain, you can end up in a frightening cycle of increased tolerance and addiction. The most extreme form of treatment, spinal surgery, can permanently limit your back’s flexibility. You might even end up with an even more painful problem known as failed back surgery syndrome.

The Physical Therapy Approach to Chronic Back Pain Management

Instead of numbing yourself with drugs or risking major surgery, give physical therapy a chance to relieve your chronic back pain the safe, natural way. Our physical therapist will first take the time to examine your back, analyze your symptoms, evaluate your medical history, and talk to you about your pain management goals. This information enables the physical therapist to devise a comprehensive physical therapy plan just for you. Here are some ways you can benefit from such a plan:

Stretching exercises can can help you increase your range of motion, allowing you to do more with less back pain.
Strengthening exercises can give weak back muscles the reinforcement they need to hold your back straighter and with less fatigue.
Laser therapy, massage therapy, and heat or cold treatments can reduce chronic inflammation and relax painful muscle spasms in your back.
Our physical therapist can recommend specific lifestyle modifications to help you ease stress on your back and avoid future back problems.
Mindfulness practices and other techniques can help you reduce anxiety and other reactions to pain that might make the pain worse, helping you control your pain responses for the better.

Master Your Back Pain — With Our Help

You have the power to master your chronic pain, starting with the decision to treat yourself to physical therapy. Contact our physical therapist at Synergy Rehab and Wellness today!

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Ached by Lower Back Pain? Stand up Straighter with Physical Therapy

Lower back pain is a sensation all too familiar to millions of people. This ache can hinder many aspects of your life: working, spending time with friends and family, partaking in the activities you enjoy, and even just relaxing. The World Health Organization estimates that in the United States, 149 million days of work are lost due to low back pain. It is the leading cause of inactivity among adults, and it can result in other health issues if left untreated. It is also extremely common, appearing in 60-70% of people across industrialized nations.

If lower back pain is plaguing your everyday life, it is important that you find relief as soon as you can. For more information on how we can help get you back to a pain-free life, call Synergy Rehab & Wellness in Staunton or Waynesboro today.

How can physical therapy help?

Physical therapists focus specifically on pain and injury to help their patients regain function, comfort, and mobility. Physical therapy treatments are used to alleviate pain, promote healing, and bring restored function and movement to the painful area. When you come in for a consultation, your physical therapist will provide you with an extensive evaluation, discovering what form of treatment will be best for whatever orthopedic, neurologic, or cardiovascular condition you are facing.

Physical therapy also consists of two categorized types of treatments: passive physical therapy and active physical therapy:

Passive physical therapy

The purpose of passive physical therapy is to help pain become more manageable, and hopefully to alleviate it altogether. Lower back pain can be a debilitating condition, impeding your physical abilities. Because of this, physical therapists work hard to reduce pain as much as possible. Passive physical therapy can include any combination of these special treatments, as deemed fit by your physical therapist:

Electrical stimulation, such as TENS Units
Massage
Manual therapies
Hydrotherapy
Ultrasound
Dry needling
Heat/ice packs
Iontophoresis

Some of these methods are used to reduce pain and swelling, such as heat/ice packs and massage therapy. Electrical stimulation, while it sounds intimidating, is a painless treatment that delivers minuscule waves of electricity throughout your nervous system. This also helps with pain relief, and it can also help in decreasing muscle spasms, as well as encouraging your body to produce pain-relieving hormones. Hydrotherapy is an aquatic-based treatment, in which patients will perform low-intensity movements in water, thus relieving any muscle pressure they may be experiencing and allowing their joints to move freely and comfortably. These techniques are more commonly used for the treatment of lower back pain than others, although any could be prescribed based on your physical therapist’s discretion.

Active physical therapy

The purpose of active physical therapy is to provide exercises that the patient can do on their own in the later stages of their physical therapy treatment. Once your lower back pain has subsided enough that your physical therapist believes you are ready for active physical therapy, he or she will set up an exercise schedule specific to your needs. This can include any combination of stretching, strength training, and stability training, and it is all geared toward helping you gain back your flexibility, range of motion, and muscle strength. These exercises will help provide support to the painful area and will guide you further in your recovery process.

What will my visits look like?

At your initial consultation, your physical therapist will ask you several questions regarding your medical history, lifestyle, and painful area(s). This information will assist your physical therapist in creating the best treatment plan for you and your specific needs, so you can be provided with long-term results.

After your consultation, your evaluation process will begin. Your physical therapist will examine you by assessing your posture, coordination, strength, balance, flexibility, blood pressure, and/or heart rate, depending on your pain and symptoms. This evaluation will be both manual and visual.

When you’ve completed your thorough evaluation, your physical therapist will then create your treatment plan, beginning with passive physical therapy and leading into active physical therapy. You may also be given exercises to do at home, during your time away from treatments. This is all done in order to reduce pain, avoid further injury, and provide you with the quickest recovery time possible.

If you believe your lower back pain could benefit from our physical therapy services, give our office a call today to schedule your initial consultation. We’ll help you stand up to your back pain!

So You’ve Been Having Back Pain… Could it be Caused by a Herniated Disc?

Something is terribly wrong with you, but you’re not quite sure what it is. Strange neck pains, back pains, or extremity symptoms can indicate a variety of potential problems — including one or more herniated discs. How can you tell for sure whether you have this specific problem? If you do have a herniated disc, what can you do about it? These questions don’t have to add confusion and frustration to your physical woes. Here are some helpful tidbits of information from our physical therapist about herniated discs, their common symptoms, and how physical therapy can you overcome your distress.

What Is a Herniated Disc?

“Herniated disc,” “slipped disc,” and “ruptured disc” are all just different ways of describing the same physical problem. Your spinal discs are squat discs of tissue that lie between the vertebrae. A disc consists of a fluid-filled center called the nucleus pulposus encased in an outer structure called the annulus fibrosus. This arrangement makes the disc both tough enough and spongy enough to absorb shocks.

Unfortunately, that toughness has its limits. Sometimes a disc will lose hydration over time, causing the nucleus pulposus to shrink. The disc loses its height, which stresses the spinal joints and may cause the disc to bulge outward. Eventually these changes can cause part of the annulus fibrosus to balloon and tear open; this is herniated disc. Herniated discs can also occur suddenly due to an auto accident, workplace accident, or sports injury that traumatizes the spine.

Telltale Signs and Revealing Tests

Herniated discs don’t always cause symptoms, but the symptoms that they do cause can help you troubleshoot the nature of your problem. The most common symptoms include:

Neck pain (if it’s a cervical disc)
Back pain that seems to grow worse when you sneeze, cough, stand up or sit down
Pain, tingling, or loss of sensation in a limb (the result of a herniated disc pressing against nerve roots)
An inability to walk more than a few steps without pain
Symptoms that started shortly after an accident, extreme twisting of the neck or back, or an attempt to lift a heavy object
Symptoms that began after you gained a lot of weight (since obesity is a risk factor for disc problems)

If your symptoms seem to be soothed by massage, heat, or cold, you’re more likely to have a strained muscle or tendon than a herniated disc. Ultimately, the most accurate way to confirm a herniated disc is through medical imaging. X-rays can reveal not only the abnormal shape of a herniated disc, but also whether the herniation is pinching a nerve.

Physical Therapy to Help You Treat Your Herniated Disc

A herniated disc can cause a lot of misery — but don’t panic. Most herniated discs can be treated successfully without surgery. Physical therapy can be instrumental in helping you reduce or eliminate your symptoms. Our physical therapist can recommend specific exercises to build up the strength in your back or neck. These exercises can counter any atrophy or weakness you’ve experienced due to your herniated disc. They can also reinforce your neck and back, lending these structures extra support and making them less vulnerable to future herniation. We may also recommend other non-invasive techniques to complement your physical therapy exercises and help you heal.

Are you ready to learn more about herniated discs and get the answers to your neck or back needs? Contact Synergy Rehab & Wellness Center today at our Verona, VA, or Waynesboro, VA location – to schedule a consultation with a physical therapist today!

Posture Perfect: How to Correct Your Back Pain

If you suffer from back pain, you’re in good company. In fact, the most commonly reported area of pain is the back. According to one longitudinal study, 3% of all emergency room visits between the years of 2004-2008 were due to back pain or injury. An estimated 25 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, many of whom experience that pain in their back. Back pain can be limiting in numerous ways, and many people with chronic back pain also have a disability that makes it difficult for them to perform their daily tasks. While this is undeniably frustrating and uncomfortable, physical therapy can help get you back to your normal functioning, pain-free life! For more information on how we can help you eliminate your back pain, give Synergy Rehab & Wellness in Staunton and Waynesboro, VA a call today.

Why do I have back pain?

If you are suffering from persistent back pain, there is a good chance it is due to your posture. Poor posture is one of the most common causes of back pain. Do you slouch at your desk? Do you lean forward to read emails? Do you hunch over your keyboard? These are all things that people do subconsciously, without even realizing the toll it takes on the body.

Your posture affects how your body moves – whether you’re sitting, standing, walking, running, jumping, or performing pretty much any other task throughout the day. Your posture may also change depending on what you are doing – perhaps your posture when you stand is perfect, but when you sit at a desk or lay down, your body begins to hunch and fold in ways that it is simply not supposed to.

How did I develop poor posture?

Poor posture isn’t anything to be embarrassed about – very few people have perfect posture, and most people partake in bad posture habits in one way or another. We become so wrapped up in whatever tasks we are doing that we forget to think about the way our bodies are positioned. Maybe you’re completing a project at work, it’s the end of the day, you’re tired, and you’re slouched sideways in your desk chair with one eye on the monitor and the other on the clock. This position isn’t normal for your body, but you are getting in the position most efficient for you to type up the rest of that file and then zoom out the door.

Poor posture isn’t due to laziness or apathy; rather, it generally has something to do with a physical weakness within our bodies. We slouch, slump, hunch, and droop over when we get feel drained because our bodies literally get tired of holding us up.

Even if you exercise regularly, it is possible that there are still a few weak muscles contributing to your posture that you may not even realize. The muscles in your shoulders, back, abdomen, buttocks, and pelvic floor all play an important role in your posture. If even one of these is weak, your core will be affected, and your posture may suffer.

How will physical therapy help me regain proper posture?

Physical therapy is a great way to regain normal posture. Physical therapists are experts in movement and they are great resources to have when trying to achieve your physical performance goals. They will aid you in the improvement of your balance, stability, flexibility, and mobility, all of which will positively affect your posture.

At your initial evaluation, our physical therapist will perform functional testing and diagnostic imaging in order to identify which weakened areas of your body are causing your back pain. Afterward, they will create a customized treatment plan, tailored to your specific needs. This plan will focus on improving your posture, increasing strength, and (most importantly) relieving pain.

If you are experiencing back pain, your posture may be to blame. Fortunately, our advanced team of physical therapists is ready to help you begin your journey toward long-lasting pain relief. Find out for yourself why physical therapy is one of the most effective ways to address your back pain and start on the road to recovery. Contact Synergy Rehab & Wellness today to schedule a consultation, and figure out how physical therapy can help make you “posture perfect!”

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