Back Pain and Age

In the United States, 31 million Americans experience back pain and that number will continue to grow over time. Because the back is a confusing mix of bones, ligaments and muscles, simple strains or irritated joints can contribute to any form of back pain. Along with the 80 percent who will experience back pain in their lives, people who experience discomfort in their back spend $50 billion annually to treat their pain. These ailments increase as we steadily get older. With these facts, it’s important to treat back pain to put ease on your body and wallet. A Massapequa physical therapist will be able to treat your back pain and ease the stress it gives you.

Back pain becomes more concerning the older you get. As we age, discs in our vertebrae shrink and wear away, which can cause stiffness and pain from bones constantly rubbing together. In addition to this, the space around our spinal cord narrows, which is known as spinal stenosis. These conditions put stress on nerve endings and cause immense discomfort.

In order to avoid back pain, it’s important to treat it as soon as you begin to experience symptoms. These are some ways you can help reduce back pain:

• • Get active – being active will help your mental and physical health, strengthening muscles and ligaments around your back that will help reduce discomfort.
  • Apply cold – when you first experience back pain, immediately try to ice the area where you feel discomfort. 20 minutes on and off from applying ice will reduce pain and inflammation in the back.
  • Heat application – a few days after experiencing back pain, using a heating pad or getting into a warm bath can be beneficial because the warmth stimulates blood flow and relaxes tense muscles. After you remove the heat source, be sure to stretch to avoid muscle spasms.
  • Physical therapy – Massapequa physical therapists prescribe healthy exercise programs targeted at improving the stability of whatever is giving you discomfort. Building up back and abdominal strength will help improve the spine.

Back pain is an issue the older you become, but you can take the right steps to improve strength and avoid the discomfort of a strained back. Park Physical Therapy in Massapequa understands the struggles of an uncomfortable back and can help enhance back strength through our various programs.

For more information on back pain treatment, contact us today!