Physical therapy is the science of blending physiology with exercises and applying these principles to the body when an injury is sustained. Physical therapy for back and neck conditions focuses on the structures that support the spine and its joints including muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Goals of physical therapy
There are five main goals of physical therapy, as described below:
1. To educate patients on the principles of stretching and strengthening, which will in turn, help manage pain and accelerate tissue healing.
2. To educate patients on proper posture and ergonomic principles to preserve the spine.
3. To accelerate the stages of healing, which focus on:
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Reducing pain and the inflammatory cycle
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Apply passive modalities only if severe: ice/heat/ultrasound/traction/electrical stimulation
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Educate regarding posture and resting in neutral position
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Restoring muscular flexibility, joint mobility, and spine motion
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Introduce specific stretching exercises and progressions to abolish pain and stiffness to specific regions with high frequency and repetitions
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Strengthening the involved muscles
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Teach how to maintain the new postures
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Returning to normal activities
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Create new awareness of body mechanics and daily stretching for life
4. To prevent future occurrences. As you are able to maneuver through episode of back or neck pain, learn what program is needed to deter relapses.
5. To manage exacerbations. No matter how diligent you are, you are bound to have a forgetful moment, do an activity improperly and so suffer flare up, but new knowledge will help eliminate symptoms in a couple days, instead of suffering for weeks or months.
