Physical Therapy Can Help Relieve Boomers' Back Pain

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Physical Therapy Can Help Relieve Boomers' Back Pain

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=62040

Because of increasingly demanding jobs, hectic daily schedules,

participating in recreational activities, and caring for children,

grandchildren, and elderly parents, back pain is becoming a common

thread among baby boomers. However, this generation is less resigned

to simply accept the changes brought about by aging, says the

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

Baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964 and who now make up

one fourth of the U.S. population, are leading more active

lifestyles than previous generations. " Baby boomers are as active as

they were when they were younger, but now they're living with

chronic low back pain or osteoarthritis, " says Gamboa, PT,

DPT, OCS, MTC, owner of Body Dynamics, a physical therapy private

practice in Arlington, VA. " These conditions as well as others can

benefit greatly from physical therapy intervention. "

Back pain among baby boomers will be the subject of a toll-free

national hotline on Thursday, February 15, from 9:00 am until 5:00

pm, Eastern Standard Time, sponsored by the American Physical

Therapy Association's Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy

Sections. Physical therapists will be on hand to answer questions

about injury prevention, exercise, and ways to prevent back pain.

The hotline is offered as a public service to help people learn how

to minimize back pain and is not a substitute for a visit to a

physical therapist or other health care professional.

" Frequently, patients may unknowingly exacerbate their pain by

exercising improperly or by having poor posture, " Gamboa said.

Physical therapists can help to identify and correct those

behaviors. Physical therapists work on increasing muscle strength

and cardiovascular endurance, restoring and improving range of

motion in joints, and decreasing muscle and joint pain.

Physical therapy interventions may include therapeutic exercise,

manual therapy, and functional training, as well as exercises for

strength, flexibility, and range of motion, and devices designed to

rest or support the joint, such as orthotics or splints. " The goal

of a physical therapist is to get you back to doing what you enjoy

on a daily basis with as little discomfort as possible. "

For those patients who either are just starting an exercise regime,

or for injured weekend warriors just getting back in the game,

Gamboa recommends starting off slowly and not doing too much too

fast. She notes that physical therapists devise step-wise plans in

order for patients to gain strength and mobility.

Gamboa also suggests investing in an ergonomically correct chair for

work, taking frequent breaks from computers, and participating in

stress-relieving activities, such as yoga or meditation, to offset

back pain.

Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose

and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, who

have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit

their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their

daily lives. PTs examine each individual and develop a plan of care

using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce

pain, restore function, and prevent disability.

The American Physical Therapy Association (http://www.apta.org) is a

national organization representing nearly 70,000 physical

therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students nationwide.

Its goal is to foster advancements in physical therapist education,

practice, and research. Consumers can access " Find a PT " to find a

physical therapist in their area, as well as physical therapy news

and information at http://www.apta.org/consumer.

American Physical Therapy Association

http://www.apta.org/