When should back pain be seen by physical therapy?

Back pain is a complaint almost everyone has at least once in their life. The good news: most of it comes from strain and settles on its own within a few weeks. The difficulty is knowing when waiting is reasonable and when an assessment is needed.

Ask for an assessment rather than waiting if

• The pain has lasted more than six weeks or is steadily getting worse
• There is pain, numbness or tingling running down the leg
• You feel weakness in the foot or leg
• The pain does not settle at rest at night and wakes you from sleep
• It comes with fever, unexplained weight loss or a recent injury
• There is a change in bladder or bowel control — this needs urgent assessment

What does physical therapy do?

The process starts with a detailed examination: muscle strength, joint range of motion, posture and nerve findings are all assessed. A programme is then built around the individual, using three components together:

• Physical agents — ultrasound, TENS, electrotherapy, heat and cold application
• Manual therapy — releasing muscle tissue, increasing joint mobility
• Exercise — strengthening the trunk muscles and preventing recurrence

The pain going is not the end of treatment. Most of the lasting result comes from keeping the exercise programme going.

Preparing for your first appointment

Wear clothes you can move freely in, and bring any MRI, X-ray and test results with you. Noting when the pain started and what makes it worse will make the assessment easier.

This article is for general information and does not replace a medical examination.