Is Back Pain Interfering With Your Everyday Life?
Physical Therapy Can Help You Resolve Your Back Pain!
Are you experiencing pain or tension in your lower back? Are these symptoms making it difficult for you to go about your daily routine? A life free of back pain is within your grasp.
For some, back pain is a daily occurrence that dictates the way you live your life. The pain in your back determines every movement, every motion. Standing, sitting, laying down, driving, walking, or running — the pain persists. According to most studies, poor postural habits, prolonged sitting, repetitive movements like bending and twisting, and lack of physical exercise have a significant association with low back pain.
Knowing what to do can be confusing. Our physical therapists help you find solutions to your pain and provide you with an individualized program to help you manage your pain and get you back to living the life you enjoy! Call Peak Orthopedic today to make an appointment.
Physical Therapy Solutions for Back Pain
It has become more evident that passive methods (i.e., rest and medication) are associated with worsening disability and are not recommended. Education and the recommencement of regular activities and exercise are related to decreased disability. Physical therapy aims to improve function and prevent disability from getting worse.
Physical therapy at Peak Orthopedic offers a long-term solution to back pain by using targeted exercises that focus on the cause of the pain. Through a combination of strength and flexibility training that focuses on muscle development and joint movement, physical therapy can address the underlying cause of the pain and significantly improve your quality of life.
Patient Success
“As an Airman, I have annual fitness assessments. I always do well and score “excellent”. This year, a week before my physical training test, I hurt my back and couldn’t stand up at all. I was flummoxed. I’ve always been in excellent shape! Michael, Miki and Sarah not only got me back on my feet – they got me running again! They also helped identify what muscle groups I had been neglecting that caused a herniated disc in my back to ensure I can mitigate future pain. You’re in safe and knowledgeable hands when you walk through the doors of Peak Orthopedic Physical Therapy!” – Christopher K.
Understanding the Risk Factors Associated with Back Pain
Though several risk factors have been identified, the exact cause of lower back pain remains challenging. Whether from overuse work-related postures and movements or injuries from traumatic events or athletic pursuits, the exact mechanism of lower back pain varies by the individual. Sprains and strains are common, but issues with the vertebrae, discs, and even concerns regarding the spinal nerves can occur.
You might be amazed to discover the different risk factors influencing your back health include:
- Lack of exercise
- Prolonged sitting
- Lifting heavy objects
- Bending or twisting
- Anxiety and depression
- Use of soft foam mattress
- Sleep disorder
- Hypertension
Aerobic activity and strength training exercises make it possible to reduce your risk of injury and to improve your ability to overcome back pain by strengthening the vertebrae and enhancing blood flow and nutrient disbursement throughout the back.
What’s more, recent research indicates that resting may not be the ideal solution for long-term back care. Spending too much time on the couch or off your feet can lead to more long-term issues with back pain — not fewer. Exercise, in general, is shown to increase strength and flexibility, supporting healthy muscles and bones, and therefore supporting ideal back health.
Speed Up Your Recovery With Our Additional Services
- Peak Fitness (gym membership that includes fitness assessment, custom workout program and supervision)
- Medical Massage (massage with special attention to medical conditions or injuries)
- Deep Tissue Laser Therapy (Lightforce Class IV Laser for reducing pain and speeding up healing)
- Pain Management and Home Exercise Products
How Physical Therapy Helps
According to research, physical therapy treatments are effective for acute and chronic back pain. Physical therapy treatments for back pain include manual therapy, joint mobilization manipulation, exercise instruction, education, and techniques like the McKenzie Method and Therapeutic Yoga.
These have all been proven to help alleviate pain and restore function. Physical therapists assess your particular condition to identify the contributing factors and address ALL of them. Rather than focusing on one cause of your pain, your physical therapist will handle all causes.
At Peak Orthopedic, our physical therapists are skilled at hands-on intervention and exercise selection for the most comprehensive and appropriate intervention to help you resolve your pain and/or restore your function.
Join Peak Fitness
Begin your transformative journey towards optimal wellness with Peak Health and Fitness, our personalized exercise program designed to meet your specific goals. Whether it’s weight loss, strength-building, balance or improved cardiovascular health, our team is here for you every step of the way with a program that gets the results you are looking for!
Call our office or ask your physical therapist for more information. Memberships available in our Torrance and Rancho Palos Verdes locations.
Staff Spotlight: Cynth Orlanes, PTA
Meet Cynth Orlanes, PTA, one of our dedicated Physical Therapy Assistants at Peak Orthopedic Physical Therapy in Rancho Palos Verdes! Cynth earned her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with a Pre-Physical Therapy focus from California State University, Dominguez Hills, followed by her Physical Therapy Assistant license from Concorde College, Garden Grove.
She brings a wealth of clinical experience to our team, having worked with workers’ compensation patients, provided home health services, treated inpatient cases in skilled nursing facilities (primarily CVA patients), and developed extensive expertise in outpatient geriatric care. Beyond her clinical skills, Cynth is passionate about yoga and is self-taught, with plans to pursue certification. Her holistic approach to movement and wellness adds another layer of care to the way she helps patients regain strength and mobility.
Patients consistently praise Cynth for her skill, compassion, and dedication. She is known for making patients feel comfortable, supported, and motivated throughout their recovery journey. Her commitment to exceptional patient care truly reflects our core values at Peak Orthopedic Physical Therapy! We are so grateful to have Cynth on our team! If you see her at the clinic, be sure to say hello!
Call Our Clinic Today
Anyone who has struggled with back pain can tell you plain and simple: When your back is hurting, there is no way to pretend that it isn’t.
Our physical therapists will help you overcome back pain by giving you the knowledge and support necessary to help your back feel better! Working with a licensed and experienced physical therapist ensures that you do not take on too much too quickly. Our therapists will guide you through the process of healing with gradual steps.
Call Peak Orthopedic for a comprehensive assessment and learn what steps you can take to alleviate your pain and prevent further episodes. If you have a history of back injuries, pain, or minor aches, don’t hesitate to talk to a physical therapist. We offer the results you are looking for!
Recipe of the Month: Shrimp Scampi with Zoodles
Ingredients:
- 6 oz. linguine
- 1 1/2 lb. peeled, deveined large shrimp
- 4 cloves garlic, grated
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- Kosher salt and pepper
- 1 Tbsp. lemon zest
- 2 Tbsp. lemon juice (from 1 to 2 large lemons)
- 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 12 oz. zucchini (about 3), spiralized on the thickest setting
- 1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Instructions:
- Cook pasta per pkg. directions. Reserve 1/4 cup cooking water, drain pasta, and return it to the pot.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss shrimp, garlic, olive oil, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Let sit at least 5 minutes.
- Heat a large skillet on medium. Add shrimp mixture and cook until just barely opaque throughout, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate, leaving any oil in the skillet.
- Add lemon zest and pepper flakes and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add wine, scraping up any browned bits, then reduce by half. Stir in lemon juice and butter, then add zucchini noodles and simmer 2 minutes.
- Return shrimp to the skillet along with pasta and toss to combine, adding some reserved pasta water if mixture seems dry. Sprinkle with parsley.
Meet Our Team
Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6251828/
- https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12891-021-04422-2
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31789300/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31666220/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1836955319300578
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6251828/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6199140/
- https://www.omicsonline.org/risk-factors-forchronic-low-back-pain-2161-0711.1000271.php?aid=22679
- https://www.womansday.com/food-recipes/food-drinks/a28353403/shrimp-scampi-with-zoodles-recipe/
