When we think about the causes for chronic back pain, we often think about a serious, traumatic injury, such as a car accident or sports injury. However, you do not need to be in a serious accident to sustain a musculoskeletal injury. Everything from poor posture to yard work can lead to back pain.

Unfortunately for most people, once a musculoskeletal misalignment or disorder occurs, it will not simply get better with time and rest. While pain management medication can help ease back pain and neck pain, as long as the underlying musculoskeletal disorder exists, you will continue to experience pain. This is why Little Rock physical therapy is an important part of our treatment approach.

Could physical therapy in Little Rock help better manage your pain? Here's what you need to know:

Physical therapy is a natural complement to chiropractic care. A misaligned spinal disc can cause pain by compressing nearby nerves, triggering a radiating or numbing pain sensation. While chiropractic care is important for restoring proper alignment, it is one component to a long-term solution. If the core muscles remain weak, tense or otherwise impaired, they will be unable to help hold the spine in proper alignment. Consequently, patients may suffer from repeated spinal subluxations and chronic pain. Physical therapy exercises help to strengthen the surround muscles, which is essential to maintaining proper alignment.

Physical therapy improves posture, builds strength and reduces the risk for future injury. Every day activities such as yard work, housework, and caring for children can put a real strain on the spine. Worse, the long hours you spend hunched over a computer screen or even relaxing on the sofa while watching TV can negatively impact your posture. When the shoulders hunch and the head slides forward, this strains the spine and triggers pain. Physical therapy exercises are a safe way to build muscular strength, stamina and flexibility, which is key to a stronger core and better posture.

Questions about how our Little Rock physical therapy services could help you? Post them below!