{"id":3135,"date":"2021-09-14T15:28:19","date_gmt":"2021-09-14T19:28:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comprehensivespine.weillcornell.org\/?p=3135"},"modified":"2021-10-26T15:38:08","modified_gmt":"2021-10-26T19:38:08","slug":"can-physical-therapy-help-back-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comprehensivespine.weillcornell.org\/can-physical-therapy-help-back-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Physical Therapy Help for Back Pain?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Tracy Maltz, DPT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Q: Can physical therapy help my back pain?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Many patients wonder if physical therapy can reduce their back pain or if they should wait to see if their back heals naturally over time.<\/p>\n

The answer is yes to both.<\/p>\n

We know that 60 to 80 percent of back pain gets better over time. But we also know that if back pain returns, it tends to come back with even more pain or more limited function. The back pain may move into the buttocks or the leg. So we recommend getting early care for any back or neck pain that doesn\u2019t improve with just rest and ice.<\/p>\n

Physical therapists can help determine the source of the back pain. We do this by watching how someone responds to physical therapy. I like to ask what kinds of positions seem to alleviate the symptoms and what kind of positions or activities seem to aggravate symptoms. This guides our next steps.<\/p>\n

If back pain is caused by a nerve being compressed in the lower spine, some exercises can help relocate the pressure on the nerve. This can lessen the pain and help the nerve better communicate with the muscle, restoring strength.<\/p>\n

Another important role of physical therapy is to help patients manage and understand their symptoms. If the pain returns, they know to seek help before allowing it to get further aggravated.
\nIt\u2019s important for the patient to understand that when they come to physical therapy, they are signing up to take an active role in their own healing. There are many exercises that they\u2019re going to need to do at home to treat back pain efficiently and effectively.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Tracy Maltz, Director of outpatient physical therapy at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine<\/p>\n

This question was answered during the episode of Spine Time called \u201cPhysical Therapy and Your Back: What Works and What Does Not?<\/a>\u201d A recording of this webinar, held on July 14, 2021, is available on YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To sign up for future episodes of Spine Time, where you can ask questions of our spine specialists, subscribe here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

See more Ask a Spine Doctor questions and answers here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Q: Can physical therapy help my back pain? A: Many patients wonder if physical therapy can reduce their back pain or if they should wait to see if their back heals naturally over time. The answer is yes to both. We know that 60 to 80 percent of back pain gets better over time. But […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nCan Physical Therapy Help for Back Pain? | Center for Comprehensive Spine Care<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A physical therapist can help identify the source of the pain, and provide strategies and exercises to relieve it. 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