Sir Mix-A-Lot certainly has a lot to say about the quality and authenticity of a rear end, but he’s no expert when it comes to treating back pain. That’s why, when you find that your “baby got back pain,” it’s prudent to take him or her to an expert—ideally, a physical therapist—for treatment.
Benefits
According to this ACA article, “…31 million Americans experience low-back pain at any given time.” With numbers like that, chances are good that you’ll experience back pain at some point in your life. But, that doesn’t mean you have to suffer. Physical therapists are experts when it comes to the body’s neuromuscular functions. They go through extensive education to help relieve patients’ pain and get them better, faster. In fact, physical therapists aim to:
- help patients manage pain and speed up recovery time;
- educate patients on proper body alignment;
- reduce inflammation, restore flexibility, and improve joint mobility;
- strengthen muscles;
- improve quality of life; and
- prevent future injuries.
Recovering from injuries and pain is tough, but when you put a physical therapist on your side, you don’t have to go it alone. You have an expert in your corner to help you heal, feel better, and—perhaps most importantly—avoid suffering the same problems in the future.
Costs
The benefits of physical therapy extend beyond recovery. This American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) article highlights how physical therapy helps with more than pain management: “Early and guideline adherent physical therapy following an initial episode of acute, nonspecific low back pain (LBP) resulted in substantially lower costs and reduced use of health care resources over a 2-year period.” So, what does that mean? You’re going to save some serious cash from getting physical therapy—rather than a more invasive form of treatment—first.
Outcomes
Getting physical therapy first undoubtedly will save you money. But, did you know it also could save you from a host of nasty complications resulting from invasive procedures? For example, “One type of lower back pain, called lumbar spinal stenosis, is sometimes treated with surgery. But physical therapy works just as well, and comes with fewer unwanted complications—some of them life-threatening—than surgery,” explains this Harvard article, which is based on an Annals of Internal Medicine study. Who wouldn’t want to get better—sans-surgery—while saving money?
So, if the curves of your spine are “kickin’” and your “baby got back pain,” turn down the Sir Mix-A-Lot, and turn to an expert physical therapist.
