Common Treatment for Chronic Back Pain


 

The human skeleton is unique in the animal kingdom, as the human form has been naturally adapted for a lifetime of upright walking. This gave our ancestors an advantage when hunting, and it reflects in the modern skeleton’s S-shaped spine, long leg bones, arched feet, and upright pelvis. But this skeletal form also takes its toll on the body over time, since a person’s spine is fighting gravity for decades. Not only can this cause hip, knee, and ankle issues, but it can cause chronic back pain and lower back issues. Even today, millions of people around the world contend with lower back issues, and a number of common causes have since been identified. Fortunately, the modern medical industry can help. Surgery is necessary for the most dire cases, while doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists can help with most other spinal issue cases. A hospital patient may use automatic strength tests and other rehab tools and systems such as computerized range of motion testing equipment. When is it time for automatic strength tests? What can they show?

Back Pain Today

Many surveys and studies are done to track the health of Americans, and this certainly includes tracking the causes and frequency of spinal issues and lower back pain. The numbers show that at any time, around 31 million Americans are dealing with back pain, and experts say that around 80% of the population will face back pain at some point in their lives. One in three women and one in four men must contend with back pain, and nearly half of all working adults today admit to having back pain issues or symptoms.

What causes all this back distress? A common cause is simple old age, since a senior citizen has spent many decades walking upright and fighting gravity. This takes a toll on the spine, and the person’s vertebrae may collapse upon one another, which will reduce flexibility while also pinching nerves and stressing back muscles. Meanwhile, many surveyed Americans say that they blame ongoing stress for their back issues, and pregnant women may also get back pain or spinal distress. And of course, years of hard manual labor may wear out the spine or back muscles of a construction worker or other manual laborer, and a person may get back pain after they have suffered an injury. An athlete may suffer an injury during practice or a game that may cause back issues. But automatic strength tests and more can help them recover at a hospital.

Hospitals and PT

A hospital patient who is suffering from chronic pain and joint issues may undergo PT, or physical therapy, at the hands of trained therapists. This can help the patient get used to walking or using their arms or legs again, and help them maintain their balance while recovering their strength and endurance. This therapy may include using automatic strength tests as well as oversized rubber band stretch tests. A physical therapist will note and log the results, and measure how quickly the patient’s muscle strength is recovering as their joints and muscles improve during PT. What is more, motion capture cameras may track the patient’s body movements and record all this data into a computer (which further helps the therapist track the patient’s progress). A patient may be released once their strength, arcs of motion, coordination, and balance are fully restored.

Pain Doctors and Clinics

A patient does not have to end up in the hospital to get access to non invasive recovery methods for back pain or spine issues. Such a patient may visit their private physician or a pain clinic and explain their problem, and the patient may get medication or a referral to another specialist. A chiropractor, for example, can use simple tools and even their bare hands to adjust a patient’s bones and muscles to relieve pain in the joints, muscles, and nerves. This may also help restore the patient’s flexibility and arcs of motion.

A yoga expert may help guide a patient through a series of bends, stretches, and poses during private sessions, and this may relieve pressure on the patient’s muscles and bones. The patient may expect to regain their flexibility and remove pain.

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