Back Pain: Can it be treated with Physical Therapy?

The body does not change overnight. Marathon runners do not start off running marathons. Professional athletes do not start out with professional-level talents. Every athlete has devoted serious amounts of time to training. You may not have aspirations of running marathons and playing professional sports; however, "Life is an athletic event that you need to train for" says Jack LaLanne . He is so right! Rehabilitating your back is your Olympic event.

After the first three months of physical therapy, Steve is finally gaining control over his back pain. He has learned to activate and use his abdominal muscles to stabilize his spine throughout the day. He exercises at least twice daily. His pain is less intense. The flare-ups are less frequent and do not last as long. Overall, he is starting to feel hopeful. But, he knows that this exercise program is really just the beginning to a lifelong commitment to staying fit.

The best exercise program is the one you are going to do every day. When you are just starting a training program, once per day is not enough. Building strength requires exercise throughout the day. Once the desired level of fitness is obtained, maintaining strength can be a once per day endeavor. However, the work does not stop here. Maintaining strength requires a lifelong commitment. This investment must be cultivated and maintained. Only then can the benefits of physical therapy be realized. Ultimately, spine rehabilitation does work. Exercise is an underutilized form of treatment for back pain according to many experts. The results from exercise can be as good (or better) as those gained from surgery. In fact, when comparing those people with spinal fusions to those who went through a spinal rehabilitation program, both groups of people are doing equally well five years after a low back injury. Surgery may give some immediate benefits over a physical therapy program, especially in the face of serious spinal problems. However, the long term results of surgery are usually no better than a good rehabilitation approach in most mild to moderate cases of back pain. Even those who have back pain due to a spondylolisthesis and lumbar stenosis can have a very active and happy life as long as there is a commitment to staying very fit-survival of the fittest.

For more information about exercising with low back pain and to view my video "Dr. Lasich Exercises with Dogs", please visit my blog at www.highheelstohormones.com .