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Exercise Can Relieve That Aching Back

Back pain is a common complaint, with about 25% of people in the United States reporting low back pain within the previous three months. Back pain often occurs after surgery for a back injury. Other causes include a ruptured disc, osteoporosis, arthritis, lumbar muscle strain and sciatica. A sedentary lifestyle, pregnancy, obesity, smoking and depression are risk factors for back pain. Occupational triggers include workplace stress, poor posture, inadequate seating or heavy lifting with bad form.  Much of the time, however, the causes of back pain are unknown, and the symptoms resolve by themselves.
While there are many treatments for this ailment, a person with back pain often benefits from exercise and paramus physical therapy program. For instance, in recent years, Pilates exercises have been promoted to alleviate back pain. While this particular system has advantages, the key is to restore mobility and reduce pain, which means that many other forms of exercise can be just as effective.  One of the evaluations we use at Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation is a McKenzie Spine Examination.   This way of examining a patient that develops a specific exercise regimen, based on your history and a movement assessment ,that will reduce a patients spine related pain.
Regardless of the initial causes, our first focus will be to reduce the swelling and inflammation, and relieve the pain. Techniques to accomplish this may involve

  • heat, ice or ultrasound application
  • transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation
  • flexibility and strengthening exercises
  •  instructions and exercises to improve your posture

Because all back pain is not the same, we will create a customized program for you, taking into account the cause, your lifestyle, and your health, fitness and wellness goals.   In addition to teaching you specific exercises to get moving and educating you to take care of your back in the future, we may recommend particular sports in which you can participate. This is important because ongoing exercise is very valuable and lessens the likelihood of the return of low back pain.
For almost 90% of people, back pain resolves within weeks, provided you follow your exercise program. We can show you safe and effective ways to improve function, reduce pain, and strengthen and maintain a healthy back—for life.
 
Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Wyckoff, NJ provides orthopedic and sports physical therapy services for the greater Ridgewood, Wyckoff, and Bergen County region.  This blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. The views expressed here are the author’s views and should be taken as suggestions. Always consult your doctor or healthcare practitioner before engaging in a paramus physical therapy or rehabilitative program.

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann is a premier physical therapist based out of Bergen County, New Jersey. He holds an MS in physical therapy from the University of Miami, is credentialed in the world-renowned McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), and holds an OCS (Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) certification. As of 2018, there are approximately 14,000 ABPTS certified specialists in the nation and less than 400 of them are located in the state of New Jersey. Tom is the owner and director of Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus. He opened the clinic, which specializes in spine and sports injury prevention, in 2004 after many years of experience in the field. Tom’s caring interest in others and his strong belief in continuity of care, combined with his clinic’s ability to find solutions for the most difficult orthopedic problems, have earned Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation its excellent reputation with patients and medical professionals in northeastern New Jersey and beyond. A true “family man,” Tom takes pride in his clinic’s warm and welcoming environment.
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