Are you someone who pushes through those mysterious aches and pains that crop up occasionally? Do you just assume your lower back pain will get better on its own? While this can work out, it’s not a guarantee. If you’re struggling with back pain, make an appointment with Aspen Ridge Physical Therapy and seek the treatment you deserve.
Lower back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal ailments globally, with an estimated 80% of people experiencing it at some point. But just because it’s a common experience doesn’t mean it can’t cause complications: around 23% of the world’s population suffers from chronic back pain, pain that lingers for longer than three months.
The good news is that physical therapy can resolve most cases of back pain through techniques like manual therapy and therapeutic exercise — no surgery or dangerous pain medications are required. Even better, our therapists can often help you improve your back strength and mobility so your back functions better than before your injury.
But to get to that point, you have to take the first step and make an appointment with the physical therapists at Aspen Ridge Physical Therapy.
Need a little extra push? Keep reading to learn why you shouldn’t ignore lower back pain.
Three Reasons to Seek Treatment for Lower Back Pain
1. It could get worse. People develop lower back pain for all kinds of reasons. If you suffered a sudden injury, your pain might indeed resolve on its own. But sudden injuries aren’t the only cause of back pain.
Many people will develop back pain due to prolonged sitting, which can contribute to a weakening of the core muscles that stabilize the spine — and puts undue strain on your lower back. Your pain will never fully resolve until you work to strengthen those muscles and address those postural issues.
2. It could indicate a serious underlying condition. Not all back pain results from an injury or poor posture. Certain medical conditions, such as spinal fractures, osteoarthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, can all cause back pain. If left untreated, your symptoms will get worse, and they might bring friends, such as restricted mobility or additional complications.
Our team of physical therapists can help you determine the exact cause of back pain and suggest appropriate treatment methods. If you have developed a chronic condition, we can help you manage your symptoms and work with you to delay the disease’s progression.
3. You deserve a pain-free life. Back pain may be common, but it can also be debilitating. Intense, persistent pain can keep you from staying active, which only worsens your symptoms and delays healing. It’s a vicious cycle that keeps you from fully enjoying your life.
Rather than waiting for your pain to resolve, take a proactive approach with physical therapy. We’ll give you the tools to build strength, improve your posture, and get moving — so you can experience lasting back pain relief.
How Does Physical Therapy Help with Back Pain, Anyway?
When it comes to back pain, movement is definitely the best medicine. Research repeatedly shows that regular exercise can reduce back pain and keep it from occurring.
The problem is that exercise might feel like an impossibility when you’re in pain. That’s why physical therapy is such an excellent treatment option: we make movement the center of our treatment.
Once you’ve decided not to ignore your back pain, give Aspen Ridge Physical Therapy a call. Here’s what we’ll do to help you find relief:
- Find the cause. Our in-depth physical assessments will help us identify precisely why you’re experiencing back pain, allowing us to develop a customized treatment plan.
- Manage pain. We offer several drug-free techniques for managing pain so you can get moving again. Manual therapy, gentle mobilization exercises, and pain-relieving modalities can get you started.
- Get moving. We’ll provide a tailored exercise program that suits your needs, interests, and ability levels. We can also help you strengthen your core muscles, ensuring your spine is well supported.
- Prevent future pain. We’ll also help you avoid future incidences of back pain by instructing you on proper lifting techniques or offering ergonomic suggestions for your workspace.
Today’s the Day to Stop Ignoring Your Back Pain!
Want to take action? The first step is simple: call Aspen Ridge Physical Therapy to schedule an initial consultation. Then wave your back pain goodbye as you embark on a journey to long-term relief!
Your Success Is Our Priority!
Return to Aspen Ridge Physical Therapy and Let’s Continue Your Journey to Wellness Together. Schedule Your Appointment Now!
Exercise of the Month
BRIDGING
Begin on your back. Bend your knees and keep your back flat on the ground. Gently, contract your abdominals and hold to keep your back flat as you move up into the bridge position. Remember to breathe. Gently, squeeze your butt muscles and lift your hips off the ground. The goal is to have your hips aligned with your knees and shoulders. Hold for 5 seconds.
3 Sets, 10 Reps.
Enjoy this hearty New Year’s Black-Eyed Peas for Good recipe — a warm, flavorful dish rooted in tradition and good fortune. It’s the perfect way to start the year with comfort, nourishment, and a little extra luck on your plate!
Enjoy This Healthy Recipe!
New Year’s Black-Eyed Peas For Good Luck
- 1 pound dry black-eyed peas
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 cups water
- 2 (32 ounce) cartons chicken broth
- 1 pound smoked ham hocks
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 5 pepperoncini peppers
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- salt and pepper to taste
Place the black-eyed peas into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let soak, 8 hours to overnight. Drain and rinse before using. Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until onion becomes translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour in 8 cups of water and chicken broth; bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Stir in soaked black-eyed peas, ham hocks, tomatoes, pepperoncini, bay leaf, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer until peas are tender, ham meat is falling off the bones, and the broth is thickened, about 3 hours.
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5 Health Tips For The New Year
1. Shop Well For Yourself. It is more important than ever to stock your kitchen with healthy foods. Have healthy snacks handy. The more convenient they are, the more likely you are to eat them. Instead of thinking about what you shouldn’t eat, promise to eat your 3 to 5 servings of vegetables each day.
2. Schedule Your Exercise. Your schedule will be very hectic this year, like every year. Schedule your workouts just as you would any other appointment. It’s okay if you can’t make it to class, but make sure that you get some activity in at least three days per week.
3. Just Say No. You probably aren’t aware how much extra food you consume just from people offering it to you. A sample at the market here, an extra cookie at an office party there and it all adds up. Just think twice before you take that food and decide if you really want it.
4. Skip the Baking. Do you make baked goods for giving? Chances are you eat much of what you bake. Who wouldn’t? Instead make non-food gifts, or prepare ingredients for baked goods and put them in pretty jars—this year, let your gift recipient bake it up. That way, they can eat it when they want it and you don’t have to be tempted in the kitchen.
5. Hydrate. Keep your water bottle with you at all times. You should be drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. One handy trick is to buy a 64-ounce water jug. Fill it up in the morning and know that you need to finish it by the end of the day.
January Word Scramble
ioiearbnhtn
aoceeibrtln
seaeynwr
sneuoloirt
iplcmosy
orkrfsiwe
Answer Key
hibernation
celebration
new years
resolution
olympics
fireworks
Share Your Success Story
Your journey to recovery is important to us, and we’re proud to have been a part of it! If Aspen Ridge Physical Therapy has helped you feel stronger, move better, or get back to doing what you love, we’d be honored if you shared your experience in a Google review. Your story could encourage someone else to take the first step toward healing!
Our Patients Get Great Results
“I’m glad and thankful for attending Aspen Ridge Physical Therapy. I have been struggling with shoulder and neck pains from my 12-hour job, and they were able to help me relieve some of the built-up tension/pain in my upper body. When you walk in, you are greeted by two wonderful ladies at the front desk who were able to help me schedule the 12-day appointments and guide me through the process of how the therapy works. When I had days when I was sick and couldn’t come in, they were able to schedule me a different day with no problem. I had the opportunity to work with Matthew and Lindsey, both physical therapists, who helped me massage the shoulder and neck pains. They instructed on exercises that could help gain my upper body strength. There are 3 wonderful ladies on the floor who go around each table to help people with their exercises, put on heating pads, and make sure everyone is doing well with their training.
All I have to say is that I enjoyed my therapy session with the staff. I loved the conversation with them and their positive vibes. They helped me with a lot of the exercises that I can do at home. Once I was able to understand all the exercises during my therapy time, I was able to do them on my own at my own pace. After completing the 12-day session, they give you a thank-you bag with delicious chocolates and goodies. I appreciate all the help they gave me, and I was able to walk away not having so much shoulder pain (although I still do have muscle problems not gone completely). I want to thank all the staff for helping me feel better!”
-H.I.
