There are many potential causes or medical reasons why a person might develop pain or weakness in their lower back, including:
- Arthritis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Fibromyalgia
- Herniated (bulging) or ruptured discs
- Lumbar stenosis
- Nerve compression
- Osteoporosis
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis, lordosis and other spinal irregularities
- Sprains and strains
A physical therapy evaluation will help determine the likely sources of your pain. In many cases, there are multiple factors that contribute to low back pain, including irritated discs, angry nerves, posture problems, poor muscle control, narrowing of nerve tunnels and stiffness in the vertebrae (back bones). These can lead to low back pain, buttock pain, hip and thigh pain, pain shooting down the leg and tingling feelings in the leg and foot.
Who Can You See for Diagnosis and Treatment Advice?
At Glencoe Regional Health, providers in our family medicine and internal medicine departments can provide diagnosis and treatment for medical conditions affecting the lower back, or refer you to another medical professional as your condition requires. There are a variety of treatment approaches that may be appropriate for your specific diagnosis, such as physical therapy, medications, and surgical procedures.
How Can Physical Therapy Help?
The goal of physical therapy will depend on your symptoms and diagnosis. Common goals include:
- Decreasing pain with certain positions and activities
- Improving movement and bending
- Restoring your ability to squat and lift objects
- Improving your ability to walk
What Can You Expect During Evaluation and Treatment?
At the first visit, your therapist will perform a thorough evaluation to assess how your nerves, muscles and skeleton function together and better understand how your lower back pain affects your ability to perform daily tasks and activities. Next, your therapist will create an individualized treatment plan. He or she will discuss the treatment plan with you, including the number of treatment sessions and activities that will be included in future therapy sessions to reach your treatment goals.
Physical therapists use a number of different approaches to treat lower back pain and pain that radiates down into the legs:
- Manual therapy is the skilled use of the therapist’s hands to reduce tension in the muscles, decrease pain and improve movement between the vertebrae.
- Neuromuscular re-education is used to improve muscle control, balance and how your body moves.
- Therapeutic exercise involves stretching, strengthening and home exercise programs.
- Movement control addresses posture and positioning during sitting, laying down, standing and lifting.
- Mechanical traction and electrical stimulation may be used to decrease pain.
