If you struggle with lingering back pain outpatient physical therapy at St. Joseph’s/Candler may help

Do you feel overwhelmed after Christmastime? Did you eat too much over the holidays? Santa may have the same problem.

In fact, Santa is the perfect candidate for back problems because of his round belly. The same holds true for us mere mortals.

“Back pain is something I see all the time. It’s very, very common,” says Zack Crowl, physical therapist and clinical coordinator at the St. Joseph’s/Candler Pooler Outpatient Rehabilitation Center. “Unfortunately, anyone is prone to back pain. It’s not limited to just one set of patients.”

Back pain also is not limited to one cause. It can result from a fall or lifting something heavy incorrectly. It can be the result of a car wreck, and sometimes we don’t even know the cause of back pain.

Another cause that may surprise some is that ‘spare tire’ up front. Yes, our stomach and stomach muscles can have an affect on your spine and back.

The spine is the central support for the entire skeletal system. It is designed for strength – to support your body – and flexibility – to allow movement. When healthy, your spine is S-shaped with three natural curves. When these curves are in balance, your body weight is evenly distributed. To maintain this alignment, you need to have strong and flexible muscles in your back, legs and abdomen. The abdominal muscles are especially important in supporting the spine.

A potbelly changes the curvature of your back. The stomach pulls the backbone forward, stressing muscles and ligaments and putting pressure on discs.

“Sometimes individuals who are a little bit heavy set and have more weight up front experience extra pull on the back,” Crowl says. “It changes the center of gravity, puts some pressure on the back and irritates it a little bit more.”

The good news is that you can do something about back pain and it doesn’t have to involve medication or surgery. If you have excess abdominal fat, following a proper diet and exercise program can help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight and strengthen your muscles.

“Sometimes depending on the patient’s background and activity levels, being in good health overall can play a big role in it too,” Crowl says. “Typically those who are more active and maintain a healthy lifestyle, while they are still prone to back pain, they may handle it better and bounce back from it quicker.”

How physical therapy can help

If you want individualized care for your back pain or just help getting started with a healthy lifestyle, physical therapy can help. The St. Joseph’s/Candler Outpatient Rehabilitation Centers serve as a resource for all back pain suffers in the community. Services provided include:

• Individualized physical therapy evaluation
• One-on-one therapy sessions
• Modalities for decreasing pain
• Instructions on treatment methods you can practice at home
• Tips for preventing future problems

Most sessions occur anywhere from one to three times a week, lasting for approximately 45 minutes. The total length of physical therapy depends on the extent of the pain.  One-on-one physical therapy is provided in an outpatient setting. Instruction is provided on coping strategies and lifestyle modifications. Posture training and body mechanics are practiced for everyday situations.

“We like to look at the person not just the diagnosis itself and see what’s going on with them and what other factors are playing a role too, especially in those individuals who’ve had back pain for quite a while,” Crowl says. “Some patients have had back pain for so long they start to avoid movements and move less and less because of the pain. We can guide and assist in that gradual return to doing some of those activities that were bothersome in the past to break through those barriers.”

If you think physical therapy can help with your back pain, a physician’s referral is required. St. Joseph’s/Candler Outpatient Rehabilitation has five locations to serve you – St. Joseph’s Hospital, Candler Hospital, Pooler, Rincon and The Landings. Request an appointment online now.