Best Lower Back Pain Treatment in Visalia – It’s Prevention and It May Extend Your Life

Preventing lower back pain my extend your life. But, if you are experiencing lumbar pain, and are looking for the best back pain treatment in Visalia, we can help.

More on Prevention and Longevity

Low back pain is incredibly common. About one-half of all working Americans will experience symptoms at least once every year, and roughly 31 million are affected by it at any given point in time.

So if you consider yourself part of this group, you have plenty of company.

Dealing with low back pain can be troublesome and place a strain on everyday life. Typical movements like bending over to pick something off the ground or twisting your torso when looking to the side might suddenly give you pause and make you less mobile in the process. This is one of the main reasons low back pain is also one of the leading causes for missed work due to disability.

Anyone Can Experience Lower Back Pain

Low back pain is most prevalent in individuals between the ages of 30-60, which is mainly due to the aging process. Anyone can get low back pain and it can develop for a variety of reasons, but there are certain factors that are believed to increase one’s chances. These risk factors include older age, poor physical fitness, a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight, diseases like arthritis and cancer, occupations that strain the back, smoking, depression, and anxiety.

Fortunately, most cases of low back pain will resolve on their own in a short period of time, but up to 10% of individuals will go on to develop chronic low back pain when it lasts for more than three months. When the condition becomes chronic, it can have an even more significant impact on quality of life, and it also becomes more difficult to treat.

According to Scientists, Here’s Why You Want to Avoid Chronic Back Pain

According to a recent review, having chronic back pain may reduce one’s life expectancy as well.

For the review, researchers performed a systematic search for published studies that evaluated the impact of low back pain on the risk for death (mortality) in patients. This search led to 11 studies being included in the review, which included data on more than 80,000 patients who were monitored for 5–23 years. Results showed that mild back pain did not have any long-term associations with mortality and is therefore unlikely to impact the length of one’s life. However, patients with chronic back were found to have a modestly higher mortality risk compared to those who didn’t have back pain.

Address Lower Back Pain Quickly with One of the Best Lower Back Pain Treatment Options in Visalia or Hanford

These findings suggest that over time, chronic low back pain may reduce one’s life expectancy through various mechanisms, such as greater disability, reduced quality of life, and physical inactivity. Therefore, it stands to reason that addressing low back pain early and preventing it from progressing to the chronic stage may improve an individual’s quality of life and extend their lifespan.

One of the safest and most effective ways to alleviate low back pain is through a course of physical therapy, which is based on personalized treatment programs that teach patients various exercises and movement-based techniques that reduce pain and increase function.

Don’t Let Pain Get In Your Way – We Can Help

To learn more about what we can do for your low back pain, contact Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy today:

559-733-2478 (Visalia)

559-582-1027 (Hanford)

Slipped Disc Treatment in Visalia

Many Herniated Discs Will Eventually Improve on Their Own…

If you are searching for slipped disc treatment in Visalia, or slipped disc treatment in Visalia, new research again has concluded that this problem (sometimes thought of a bulging disc, which is technically not correct) will resolve on its own, for most people.

Here’s More Information about Herniated or Slipped Discs

Herniated discs are a common but often misunderstood condition. For a brief anatomy lesson, your spine is made up of small bones called vertebrae, which are stacked on top of one another.

Between these vertebrae are soft, rubbery pads called intervertebral discs, which absorb shock in the spine and keep it flexible. These discs have a structure that is similar to a jelly donut, with a softer center encased in a tougher exterior. A herniated disc, also known as disc degeneration or disc bulging, occurs when the softer jelly-like substance pushes out through a crack in the exterior ring.

Although a herniated disc may lead to pain in the lower back and/or numbness and weakness in the arm(s) or leg(s), many patients don’t experience any symptoms. In fact, one study found that 80% of 50-year-olds and 96% of 80-year-olds without back pain had signs of disc degeneration on an imaging test, while 60% and 84% of the same age groups had signs of disc bulging.

Most Can and Should be Treated with Natural Physical Therapy

The majority of patients with a herniated disc who do experience symptoms can be treated with a conservative approach that usually includes various movement-based interventions delivered by a physical therapist. However, many patients go on to have surgery to “fix” the herniated disc, even if their symptoms may not stem from this finding.

This can be problematic because surgery is expensive, risky, and may not lead to the outcomes that patients expect. In addition, it’s been reported that in some cases, the portion of the disc that has protruded out will spontaneously regress back towards its original position over time. Researchers were curious how frequently this spontaneous disc regression occurred, and therefore conducted a comprehensive study called a systematic review to find out.

More severe disc herniations associated with greater chances for regression
To conduct the review, researchers performed a search for studies in which patients not treated surgically were assessed with imaging tests like an MRI or CT scan. The studies also had to include information on the incidence of regression in these patients. This search led to a total of 9 studies fitting the necessary criteria to be included in the review.

These studies included data on 361 cases of herniated discs, which are classified according to the level of severity. A bulging disc is the mildest type of herniated disc, followed by a protruded disc, an extruded disc, and finally a sequestrated disc, which is the most severe type. Results showed that discs frequently became smaller, particularly in the more severe types of herniation. Disc regression occurred in 96% of sequestrated discs, 70% of extruded discs, 41% of protruded discs, and 13% of bulging discs. In addition, 43% of the sequestrated discs went on to reach a point where the disc was no longer herniated, which was called a complete disc resolution. Most of the regression was found to occur within one year.

Slipped Disc Treatment in Visalia? Here’s the TL;DR – It Will Go Away on Its Own

These findings show that it’s possible for a herniated disc to regress or completely resolve without any surgical intervention. Although regression or resolution of a disc does not definitively indicate that the patient will also improve—just as a herniated disc does not guarantee that symptoms will occur—research suggests that outcomes are better for patients after a reduction of the herniation. Therefore, patients with back pain should be hesitant before considering surgery to address a herniated disc, since there’s a chance it may not be responsible for their symptoms and because may resolve on its own.

Instead, we encourage patients to trial a course of physical therapy for their pain. Physical therapists only order imaging tests unless it’s deemed absolutely necessary and utilize a strategy in which they treat back pain with a variety of safe, noninvasive, movement-based interventions right away.

If you have questions or need help, click here to visit our contact page.

For Natural Treatment for Herniated, Bulging, or Slipped Discs,
Call (559) 733-2478

Overuse and Repetitive Strain Injuries

Repeatedly performing certain motions can produce pain and dysfunction over time

Most injuries will fall into one of two categories: acute and overuse. Acute injuries usually result from a single, traumatic event, such as a fall, slip, or collision with another athlete or object. Some common examples of acute injuries include wrist fractures, ankle sprains, shoulder dislocations, and hamstring strains.

Overuse injuries, on the other hand, occur gradually over time rather than on the spot. They are more common than acute injuries but are also more subtle, which makes them more challenging to diagnose and treat. Overuse injuries may result from training too hard and pushing your body past its limits, or simply by moving incorrectly or with bad posture on a repeated basis. Another term used is repetitive strain injuries, which shows how repeating the same movements can result in small trauma—or microtrauma—to tendons, bones and joints. Eventually, the damage gets so bad that symptoms begin to arise, in which cases treatment is usually needed.

Here at our practice, we treat a variety of sprains & strains. Below, we offer a brief overview of the mechanisms responsible for 5 common overuse injuries:

Shoulder Impingement – Consider Physical Therapy for Shoulder Impingement Syndrome in Visalia
Shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) is a condition that involves the rotator cuff, a group of muscles and tendons that keeps the shoulder stable. In SIS, rotator cuff tendons become compressed—or “impinged”—as they pass through a small bone on top off the shoulder blade called the acromion. Over time, this causes the tendons to become irritated and inflamed, and will lead to bothersome symptoms like swelling and tenderness, loss of strength, restricted movement and pain that occurs at rest, when moving the shoulder overhead and/or when sleeping.

SIS is most common in individuals that regularly perform lots of overhead activities like golfers, swimmers, and baseball and tennis players, as well as painters and construction workers. The condition can also result from an injury that compresses the structures of the shoulder—like a fall—or from frequently sleeping on your side. Sleeping in this position regularly can strain the shoulder and cause impingement over time.

Plantar Fasciitis – We Provide Effective Physical Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis in Visalia
The plantar fascia is a thick, connective band of tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot and connects the heel to the toes. It’s a tough structure designed to absorb the regular stresses that are placed on the foot, but can become damaged when these forces are excessive. When this occurs, the resulting condition is plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is a stubborn overuse injury and the most common cause of heel pain.
It occurs most frequently in runners—especially long-distance runners—due to the repetitive strain they place on their feet. People who have flat feet or high arches, are overweight or regularly perform any other weight-bearing activity are also at increased risk. The most common symptom of plantar fasciitis is a stabbing pain near the heel that’s most noticeable upon waking up and after standing for long periods.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Relief for Those Searching for Physical Therapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Visalia
The carpal tunnel is a space at the base of the palm that contains several tendons and the median nerve, which provides sensation to the fingers. If these tendons thicken or any other swelling occurs in the area, this tunnel narrows, which puts pressure on the median nerve and leads to a condition called carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is extremely common, as it affects about 5% of the population.
The greatest risk factor is any task that requires repetitive hand motion, awkward hand positions, strong gripping, mechanical stress on the palms, or vibration. As a result, individuals who work on an assembly line—like manufacturing and meatpacking industries—are at the highest risk. The risk if also high in office workers. Symptoms usually start with a burning or tingling sensation, but eventually pain, weakness and/or numbness develop in the hand and wrist, and then radiate up the arm.

Golfers Elbow – Choose Physical Therapy for Golfer’s Elbow in Visalia
Golfer’s elbow is a condition that results from the repeated bending of the wrist that is necessary in a golf swing. This damages the muscles and tendons of the medial epicondyle—a piece of bone on the inside of the elbow that allows the forearm, wrist and hand to bend and move in several different ways—and eventually leads to inflammation. It is especially common in golfers because gripping or swinging clubs incorrectly or with too much force can take a toll on the structures within the elbow over time.

Common symptoms include pain, tenderness, swelling, weakened grip strength and a burning sensation on either the inside or outside of the elbow. These symptoms often develop gradually and are worsened by activities that involve the forearm, and if left unchecked, can go on to make many basic activities that require gripping or grasping a major challenge.

Lower Back Pain – Natural Physical Therapy for Back Muscle Strain in Visalia
Back pain is the most common musculoskeletal injury, and a significant number of cases are due to a strain of one or more back muscles. This condition—also known as a pulled muscle—is the result of muscle fibers tearing from being overstretched or overused, which can occur from repeatedly bending your back or using improper posture.

The most common symptom is pain in the lower back that is often most intense during the first few hours of the day. Pain also tends to get exacerbated with certain movements or positions that strain the muscles of the spine, like standing for long periods of time. Tenderness and stiffness of the spine is also likely.

Physical therapy for all types of overuse injuries
In addition to being the product of overuse or repetitive strain, another feature that all of these conditions share in common is responding to physical therapy. Our physical therapists can help by identifying the behaviors or habits that are responsible for your pain, and then recommending adjustments to your movements along with a personalized treatment program to help you move with less pain.

Contact Us for More Information About How We can Help

Physical Therapy After Back Surgery in Visalia or Hanford

A recovery from back surgery can only be completed with physical therapy

Back pain is a class of its own. As the most common painful disorder, about 85% of Americans will experience low back pain at least once in their lives. So if you’ve never dealt with bothersome pain or stiffness in your spine, you are technically part of the minority.

Anyone can get low back pain and it can develop for a variety of reasons, but there are certain factors that increase one’s chances of getting it. These include older age, poor physical fitness, a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight, other diseases like arthritis and cancer, risky occupations that may strain the back, smoking, depression, and anxiety.

Though it can be a bothersome condition that may interfere with your daily life, fortunately, most cases of low back pain will improve over time and with non-surgical, or conservative treatment. Conservative care is strongly recommended in nearly all cases of acute low back pain, and physical therapy is typically regarded as a fundamental component of this approach. Physical therapists implement a variety of interventions that are designed to decrease pain, increase function, and prevent further recurrence, and the majority of patients will notice these benefits as they progress through their program.

But a small percentage of patients don’t respond to physical therapy and continue to experience cumbersome back-related issues. These non-responders may be considered good candidates for surgery because conservative methods have failed to produce satisfactory improvements. Surgery may also be recommended for patients with persistent and disabling pain that’s due to certain conditions, including herniated discs, bone spurs, spinal stenosis, broken bones, or more serious problems like spinal infection and spinal tumors.

Explaining the necessity of physical therapy after surgery
If you fall into one of these groups and come to decide that surgery is the best path forward, your surgeon will explain what to expect before, during, and after your procedure. In particular, your surgeon will tell you that while the surgery itself will correct the anatomical problem that is responsible for your symptoms, it doesn’t guarantee a positive outcome in and of itself. Physical therapy begins as soon as the day after surgery and is regarded as an integral part of the recovery process that strongly increases the chances of success. Post-surgery physical therapy programs vary depending on the procedure and patient, but some of the most common interventions you’re likely to see include the following:

Pain-relieving modalities: ice, heat, electrical stimulation, and other passive modalities will be administered in the immediate days after surgery to reduce your pain levels
Stretching exercises: in the first week after surgery, your therapist will teach you gentle stretching exercises for the hamstrings and quadriceps muscles of the thigh; as you continue to heal, you will progress to stretching the back and abdominal muscles as well
Strengthening exercises: starting in week 2 of your recovery, you will begin basic strengthening exercises to build back the core muscles of your lower back and abdomen; these exercises will also increase in intensity as you progress, with elastic bands, exercise balls, and yoga stretches being incorporated staring around week 6
Manual therapy: your therapist will probably perform several manual—or hands-on—therapy techniques to increase mobility and alleviate pain, such as massage around the surgical incision, mobilization, and manipulation
Aerobic exercise: starting around week 9 after surgery, you should be ready to begin engaging in low-impact aerobic exercises, such as brisk walking, swimming, bike riding, and stair climbing; your therapist will guide teach you to perform these activities in the safest possible manner that keeps your risk for reinjury low

While surgery can generally be avoided for most cases of low back pain, as we’ve shown, there are certain circumstances when it may become a necessity. If you decide to have back surgery and want to get back to your pre-injury levels as safely and quickly as possible, physical therapy is the best way to get there, and we can help. Contact us today to learn more or schedule an appointment.

Get Started on Treatment for Your Low Back Pain Right Away with Physical Therapy

Low back pain is a global issue on a massive scale that can be illustrated in a few key statistics:

It is currently the number one cause of disability in the world
The amount of years spent with disability from low back pain has increased by 54% since 1990
About 37% of the world’s population experiences low back pain every year
At any given point in time, about 540 million people are affected by low back pain worldwide

Research also shown that the problem is pervasive and very few people are completely immune. More people are affected by low back pain in high-income countries than low- and middle-income countries, but rates are rapidly increasing in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East as well. And although low back pain is more common in women and older adults, it can strike nearly anyone at any age. In fact, one study showed that 40% of 9–18-year-olds worldwide have dealt with low back pain at some point.

But despite how widespread low back pain is and all that’s known about it, it may surprise you to hear that the cause of pain cannot be identified in the majority of cases. In some patients, serious conditions like spine fractures, inflammation disorders, infection, and cancer may be present, which can be detected by certain diagnostic tests. But in the absence of disease or mechanical dysfunction that is known to be responsible, a diagnosis of “nonspecific low back pain” is usually given because there is no single problem found to be causing the pain.

Why physical therapists focus on treatment over diagnosis

This may sound somewhat discouraging if you’re currently dealing with low back pain, but as physical therapists, you should know that the cause of your pain is not as important as you might think. Many people get hung up on obtaining a diagnosis for their pain and go on to have various tests to reach one. But since getting an actual diagnosis is rare, having these tests may do more harm than good, as it can lead to unnecessary treatments like surgery when problems unrelated to the pain are treated.

Rather than focusing on the diagnosis, physical therapy concentrates on addressing the pain, starting with your very first session. With movement-based therapies and exercises individualized according to your abilities and goals, we will work with you on a one-on-one basis and target your pain with a variety of techniques. We believe that movement is a key ingredient to alleviating low back pain and preventing it from returning, which is why we promote a more active lifestyle along with your treatment program from the get-go.

Current research is continuing to support physical therapy as an effective means to addressing back pain, no matter the cause. In one recent study that reviewed current guidelines on the best treatments for low back pain, researchers recommended the following:

For many patients with nonspecific low back pain, simple first-line care (advice, reassurance and self-management) and a review at 1-2 weeks is all that is required. If patients need second-line care, non-pharmacological treatments like physical therapy should be tried before pharmacological therapies.

So if you’re dealing with low back pain, don’t concern yourself too much with what’s causing it. Instead, take action and see your physical therapist now for an evaluation and treatment plan that will address your issues and help you move pain-free once again.

Physical Therapy for Lower Back Pain Instead of Opioids

Seeing a physical therapist early reduces chances of being prescribed addictive opioids

Back pain, especially low back pain, is one of the most common medical problems out there. In fact, if you’ve never experienced low back pain, you’re part of a small minority, and there’s a strong chance you’ll deal with it at some point. The statistics should help put matters in perspective: about 80% of Americans will be affected by low back pain to some degree at least once in their lifetime.

Low back pain can develop over time in a gradual manner or it may come about suddenly. For some, this leads to symptoms on a nearly constant basis, while symptoms only arise every so often for others. Symptoms vary in each individual as well, but typically include the following: pain, tenderness and/or stiffness in the lower back, difficulty with bending, lifting or twisting, weak or tired legs, discomfort in the back while sitting, difficulty standing or standing for extended periods, and pain that spreads to the buttocks or legs.

Short-lived—or acute—low back pain is most common, while pain that lasts for more than three months is considered chronic and requires additional care. Anyone can get low back pain and it can develop for a variety of reasons, but there are certain risk factors that increase one’s chances of getting it. These include older age, poor physical fitness, a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight, other diseases like arthritis and cancer, risky occupations that may strain the back, smoking, and depression/anxiety.

For individuals with acute low back pain looking to improve, there is a wide range of options available. These range from simply resting and waiting for the pain to go away on its own, to having surgery to address it in more severe cases. Today, many patients with low back pain are also prescribed opioids by their doctors, which usually provide a “quick fix” for their problem. Unfortunately, opioids don’t really solve the issue, as they only mask the pain temporarily without actually addressing the cause of it. Opioids are also highly addictive and associated with abuse and overuse, as over 45,000 individuals died of an opioid-related overdose in 2017 alone.

Physical therapy, on the other hand, offers a hands-on approach to treating low back pain that actually gets to the heart of the problem and targets it with various interventions that are known to be effective. This is why physical therapy—especially early physical therapy that begins soon after the pain starts—is strongly recommended for patients with low back pain. Following this course can help patients work on improving their condition while also reducing their risk for being prescribed opioids, since physical therapists focus on active treatments and avoiding medications.

A recent study investigated how early physical therapy affects each patient’s use of healthcare resources and chances of being given an opioid prescription, and it concluded with the following:

Early physical therapy for acute low back pain reduces healthcare utilization and cost, reduces opioid use, and may improve healthcare efficiency. This may assist patients, healthcare providers, healthcare systems, and 3rd party payers in making decisions for the treatment of acute low back pain. 

Patients with low back pain are therefore encouraged to consult a physical therapist before any other medical professional, and to do so as early as possible. Following this course will increase their chances of experiencing a positive outcome while also avoiding addictive and dangerous opioids.

Identifying Low Back Pain Causes…an Exercise in Futility for Most

Identifying the cause of your low back pain is usually difficult, but physical therapy is a universal solution to address most cases

When it comes to low back pain, there is an abundance of alarming statistics available that can help put the massive size of the problem in perspective. Here are a few key examples:

Low back pain is currently the number one cause of disability in the world
Every year, about 37% of the world’s population will experience low back pain
At any given point in time, about 540 million people are affected by low back pain globally
The amount of years of disability caused by low back pain since 1990 has increased by 54%

No One is Really Immune to Lower Back Pain

Research has also suggested that very few people are completely immune to the impact of low back pain. The number of individuals affected by it is actually highest in high-income countries, but rates are rapidly increasing in low- and middle-income countries throughout Asia, Africa and the Middle East as well. And although low back pain is more common in women and older individuals than in other groups, it can affect just about anyone of any age. In fact, one study showed that 40% of 9-18-year olds throughout the world report having had low back pain.

But despite the incredibly high number of people with low back pain and all that’s known about it, this next fact may surprise you more than anything else: in the vast majority of patients, the actual cause of the pain cannot be identified. In some patients, problems like spine fractures, inflammation disorders, infection and cancer may be responsible, but for everyone else, the cause is not known, and they are classified as having “nonspecific low back pain.”

Additional Factors that Impact the Perception of Back Pain

For these individuals, there are several factors that might play a part in the development of their low back pain. These include:

Psychological factors like depression and anxiety,
Social factors like income and education levels, and
Inherited genetic factors.

People with chronic conditions like:

Asthma,
Headaches,
Diabetes,
Smokers, and
Individuals with Previous Episodes of Back Pain…

…are also more likely to experience low back pain than those who are in good health.

This may sound overwhelming and perhaps even dampen your spirits if you’re currently dealing with low back pain, but as physical therapists, we’d like you to know that the cause of your pain is not as important as you may think. Many people get hung up on the specific diagnosis of their pain and go on to have tests to determine the source of their problem. But as you can see, getting an accurate diagnosis is rare, and these tests may lead to unnecessary treatments like surgery for some.

Don’t Focus on the Cause of Lower Back Pain When It Can Rarely be Determined

Rather than focusing too much time on the diagnosis, physical therapy concentrates on addressing the problem starting with your very first session. Throughout movement-based therapies and exercises individualized according to your abilities and goals, we will work with you on a one-on-one basis and target your pain from many angles. We believe that movement is a key ingredient for reducing low back pain, and this is why we promote a more active lifestyle along with your treatment program from the get-go.

Current research is continuing to support physical therapy as an effective means to alleviate back pain, no matter the cause. In one recent study that reviewed current guidelines on the best treatments for low back pain, researchers recommended the following:

For many patients with nonspecific low back pain, simple first line care (advice, reassurance and self-management) and a review at 1-2 weeks is all that is required. If patients need second line care, non-pharmacological treatments like physical therapy should be tried before pharmacological therapies.

So if you’re dealing with low back pain, don’t waste your time worrying about what might be causing it. Instead, take action and see your physical therapist now for an evaluation and treatment plan that will address your issues and get you back to moving pain-free once again.

Take-home Messages:

The cause of lower back pain can rarely be determined.
99% of lower back pain does NOT require surgery.
YOUR BACK IS STRONG, RESILIENT, FLEXIBLE, AND STABLE
The faster you start physical therapy, the better your outcome in almost all cases.

What are you waiting for? The clinical research is clear and our expert clinicians here in Visalia and Hanford are ready to help.

MRI for Lower Back Pain in Visalia – Why You Might Want to Avoid It

Seeing a Physical Therapist First and Avoiding an MRI for Work-Related Lower Back Pain Will Often Lead to Better Outcomes

Of all regions of the body, the spine is associated with a much higher amount of pain than anywhere else. In fact, low back pain ranks second only behind the common cold for reasons to visit a doctor. Up to 80% of the general population will experience at least one episode of low back pain in their lives, so if your back is bothering you right now, you’re far from alone. If you’ve experienced a work-related injury, and are looking want an MRI for lower back pain in Visalia, read on. We think you will find this information valuable.

Lower Back Pain is a Common Work-Related Injury

For the majority of individuals with a history of low back pain, it’s easy to attest to the fact that the pain usually makes it more difficult to complete everyday tasks that you normally complete without even thinking about. It’s for this reason—and particularly when the pain is more intense—that low back pain is also one of the leading reasons that people miss work due to disability.

Low back pain can develop over time in a gradual manner or it may come about suddenly. For some, this leads to symptoms on a nearly constant basis, while for others, symptoms only arise every so often. Symptoms vary in each individual, but typically include the following: pain, tenderness and/or stiffness in the lower back, difficulty bending, lifting or twisting, weak or tired legs, difficulty sitting or standing for extended periods, and pain that spreads to the buttocks or legs.

False Positives with MRI’s are Common…Don’t Get Labelled as Having a Problem When It Doesn’t Exist

When an episode of low back pain first strikes, it’s categorized as acute, which is what most individuals experience. Of those who experience a work-related back injury, many decide to seek out treatment for this pain… many go straight to their doctor for an evaluation and advice on what to do next. Unfortunately, this decision can prove to have some consequences that you might not expect. Some doctors will order additional tests like an MRI to better visualize what may be affecting your spine. But often times, the results from these tests will not help to improve the quality of treatment, and can instead lead to risky interventions like surgery.

To illustrate what may happen if you see a doctor first, one study investigated the effect of having an MRI on patients with work-related low back pain. Some of their key findings included:

A high percentage of people studied THAT WERE PAIN FREE, had a positive MRI
Reference here
Having an MRI was associated with a worse outcome in all patients who had one
Patients who had an MRI spent between $12,948-$13,816 more on medical costs than those who did not
Click here for the Reference

Costs are generally higher in patients who have an MRI because not only is the test itself expensive, but these patients are also more likely to be instructed to have treatments like surgery based on their results, which comes with its own set of risks. But there’s a much easier way of avoiding all of these costs in the first place: see a physical therapist first.

MRI Results Alone, Do Not Indicate the Cause of Lower Back Pain

In most cases, a physical therapist won’t send you to have an MRI for low back pain unless they think it’s completely necessary, which is rare. Instead of wasting time, needlessly suffering, waiting for results and being told to have potentially risky treatments first, you should try conservative, natural care first. Our physical therapist will start treatment during your first visit and immediately work towards addressing your problem and alleviating your pain. So for any low back pain that’s hindering your enjoyment of life, see one of our physical therapists for the fastest and safest path to a full recovery of your abilities.

Call Us to Learn More. Click here to visit our contact page.

Looking for Lower Back Pain Treatment in Hanford?

If you are looking for lower back pain treatment in Hanford, this recent research study may be of interest to you. The authors reported that several physical therapy treatments reduce pain and disability in patients with a common lower back condition. They reported that a joints at base of the spine, the sacroiliac joints, are frequently responsible for pain.

Lower back pain (LBP) continues to be one of the biggest health problems in the world, as 70-85% of the population will experience it at some point in their lives. About 90% of all patients with LBP will have a good prognosis, regardless of the treatment they receive, but the other 10% will go on to experience chronic, or long-term pain and disability. This often leads to individuals missing work due to their condition, and for many of them, the cause of the pain can be attributed to one or both sacroiliac joints.

The Sacroiliac Joints Can Be a Source of Pain for Some

The sacroiliac joint connects the sacrum bone at the base of the spine with the ilium, the uppermost part of the hip bone. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD) is a condition in which this joint does not move properly, and it is a common cause of back pain that occurs in up to 30% of LBP patients. There are several treatments available for SIJD, such as physical therapy, which can include a variety of interventions.

Although physical therapy is often used to treat SIJD, research is lacking and it’s not completely clear just how effective it is for the condition. For this reason, a powerful study called a systematic review was conducted to evaluate the possible benefits of physical therapy for SIJD.

Six medical databases searched for appropriate studies

To conduct the review, researchers performed a search of six major medical databases for relevant studies. In particular, they were looking for studies that assessed the effectiveness of various physical therapy interventions for patients with SIJD for more than three months who did not have spinal surgery. This search led to 1,114 studies being identified, but only nine of these fit the necessary criteria.

Four studies used manipulation as the main physical therapy intervention, three of them used exercise and another three used kinesiology tape. Manipulation is a form of hands-on intervention in which the therapist manipulates joints and other structures to relieve pain, while kinesiology tape is applied to the painful area in order to bring about similar changes.

Here is the Conclusion that the Authors Published

The results showed that physiotherapy interventions are effective in reducing pain and disability associated with SIJD, with manipulation being the most effective approach and most commonly used within physical therapy clinics. [Conclusion] Manipulation, exercise and kinesio tape are effective in the treatment of pain, disability and pelvic asymmetry in SIJD.
Reference- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28932014

Manipulation found to be the most effective of all treatments

Results showed that all three physical therapy interventions of manipulation, exercise and kinesiology tape were beneficial for reducing pain and disability, and for restoring normal symmetry of the pelvis in patients with SIJD. When the interventions were compared to one another, it was found that manipulation was the most effective of all three at reducing pain and improving functional abilities.

These findings strongly suggest that physical therapy is indeed supported as an effective treatment for SIJD patients. Researchers behind this review therefore recommend that anyone affected by LBP that may be due to SIJD should consider seeing a physical therapist for a comprehensive treatment program that includes manipulation to address their pain and disability.

We Treat Lower Back Pain and Sacroiliac Dysfunction in Hanford on a Daily Basis

If you would like to learn more about our all-natural, hands-on approach, contact us for an initial evaluation. Most insurance plans cover physical therapy.

Click here to visit our contact page.

–As reported in the September ’17 issue of The Journal of Physical Therapy Science

Looking for a Back Pain Specialist in Visalia?

The experienced clinicians at Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy are a great choice if you are looking for a back pain specialist in Visalia. Physical therapy is the best option available for almost any type of back pain.

Back pain is one of the most common of all possible medical problems. In fact, at any given time, about 25% of Americans report experiencing back pain at least once within the past three months. So if you’ve never had back pain, there’s a strong chance you’ll encounter it at some point in the future.

Back Pain is Most Common in the Lower Back

Pain can develop in any region of the spine, but the lower back is affected more than any other part. In the majority of cases, low back pain is classified as nonspecific, which means no known cause has been identified that is responsible for the pain. Aside from nonspecific low back pain, there are a number of other conditions that can lead to back pain. These include a herniated or ruptured disc, lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, osteoarthritis, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis and injuries like a pulled muscle or ligament.

Regardless of its cause, back pain can result in similar types of problems for anyone experiencing it. The pain will usually make it difficult to perform many daily activities, especially those that require any bending of the spine, as well as trouble exercising or playing certain sports. For some people, back pain may get so bad that might not be able to perform their job and will have to miss work as a result.

We are the Back Pain Experts in Visalia

The good news is that help is available for just about any type of back pain*, and that help comes in the form of physical therapy. Physical therapists are experts at identifying the cause of back pain, and then creating a personalized treatment program designed to reduce pain levels with a number of different techniques. Any concerns about serious problems (cancer, etc.) can be picked up by our clinicians during the initial evaluation.

After a thorough evaluation and assessment of your condition, a treatment plan is developed. A typical physical therapy treatment program for back pain usually consists of the following:

Strengthening exercises
Stretching exercises
Manual (hands-on) therapy performed by the therapist
Functional training
Education on how to prevent future back pain

The benefits of physical therapy for back pain treatment in Visalia can be found time and time again in research studies that evaluate its impact on patients. In one recent study, it was found that a hands-on technique performed by physical therapists called spinal manipulation helped to reduce pain and improve function in patients with low back pain.

So if you’re dealing with back pain of any sort, we strongly believe that seeing a physical therapist is your best option available. Rest assured, the therapists at Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy will get directly to the root of your problem, and then address it with a variety of treatments that have been proven to work no matter what kind of pain you have.

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*Ankylosing spondylitis and spinal infections have a prevalence of less than 1 per cent and the prevalence of prolapsed inter-vertebral disc is low – between 1 and 3 per cent. Up to 3 per cent may have spondylolisthesis (the slipping of one vertebra over another). Less than 1 per cent of back pain is due to more sinister pathologies including cancer (about 0.7 per cent – generally unlikely unless the patient has previously had cancer), and spinal infections (0.01 per cent). Reference