Suburban Orthopaedics

A Look at Lower Back Pain: Commonality, Causes, Conditions, and Care [INFOGRAPHIC]

With six out of every 10 Americans experiencing lower back pain during their lives, this common condition requires America’s attention and awareness. Many people suffer from lower back pain for days, months, or even years simply because they aren’t aware of the advanced care available. Today’s leading orthopaedic treatment options offer effective solutions to relieve pain, eliminate symptoms, and heal the muscles, discs, vertebrae, nerves, and joints of your spinal column.

Take a look at this infographic to get a better understanding of lower back pain, the conditions that cause it, and the treatment options available. Please help us spread the word about soothing symptoms and alleviating aches by sharing this infographic about lower back pain with your friends and family!

Tips for Making Your Physical Therapy Experience a Positive One

Physical therapy often constitutes a large part of a patient’s recovery and rehabilitation after back injury or illness. This form of treatment has several objectives. First, physical therapy can facilitate pain management. Second, it can strengthen the areas of the back affected by disease or trauma. Third, physical therapy can teach patients how to prevent future injury and pain with exercises and preventative techniques. To get the most out of your physical therapy sessions, consider the following tips:

Listen to all advice and recommendations

Physical therapy isn’t all about activity. An important component of treatment is knowing the causes that may have contributed to your condition and ways in which to prevent it from reoccurring. Orthopaedic physical therapists are experts in understanding the relationship between the muscles, bones, and connective tissues of the back. When you attend your physical therapy sessions, be sure to take careful note of your therapist’s recommendations.

Be sure to ask any questions

Because you may not have a background in orthopaedic care, you may not initially understand everything that your therapist says, or you may be confused by the exercises you’re told to do. If any part of your physical therapy session is perplexing to you, don’t hesitate to ask questions.

Keep an open and patient mind

If you have suffered a significant injury or illness, you may not see immediate results from your physical therapy sessions. However, don’t let your slow progress discourage you. Your back is a complex structure that requires time to heal. By putting your total commitment and trust in your physical therapy sessions, you’ll get more out of each appointment, which will result in faster recovery and rehabilitation.

Let Suburban Orthopaedics help you on your way to recovery. Our physical therapy specialists offer individualized and compassionate care for patients living in the greater Bartlett community. Call us today at (888) 876-0117 to set up an appointment to discuss your physical therapy needs with a spine specialist.

How to Avoid Overuse Injuries

With a new year just around the corner, many people are getting an early start on their fitness resolutions for 2013. While a commitment to physical fitness is great, making sure to exercise safely is just as important. When you begin a fitness goal with too much enthusiasm and not enough conditioning, it can result in an overuse injury. An overuse injury to the back can be particularly detrimental and potentially derail a person’s objective to get in shape. To avoid hurting yourself when you work out, be sure to keep in mind the following safety suggestions:

Don’t overexert yourself

Sometimes, reaching your fitness goals can take a little time and patience. Most health experts agree that to build your strength and flexibility, you should maintain a consistent yet moderate exercise regimen. Trying to run five miles when you have yet to successfully complete one can result in injury, as can lifting 100 pounds when you haven’t yet attempted to lift 50. As the saying goes, slow and steady wins the race. If you continue with your fitness objectives, you’ll be able to accomplish greater achievements sooner than you think.

Engage in a variety of activities

One of the most effective ways to increase your strength and stamina is to participate in more than one type of exercise. Cross-training is a popular fitness program for many athletes because it works so many different muscles. Be sure to incorporate a diverse array of activities into your exercise schedule and you’ll keep all of your muscles fresh.

Consult with a spine specialist if you experience back pain

Orthopaedic experts do not advise that you exercise through back pain. If you’re suffering from back discomfort, it’s likely that you may have already incurred an overuse injury. To make sure that your condition doesn’t become more severe, consult with a doctor to determine what’s causing your pain. With proper diagnosis and treatment, you’ll soon be back to your physical fitness routine.

If back pain has become a regular part of your fitness regimen, it’s time to contact Suburban Orthopaedics at (888) 876-0117. Our Bartlett pain management and physical therapy center can help you quickly recover from your overuse injury and get back to enjoying your exercise routine.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from Peterson Chiropractic!

How Conditioning Can Help Prevent Athletic Injury Prevention

Preparation is key when it comes to protecting your body from injury. This video explains the steps athletes should take to avoid injuring themselves during physical activity.

Conditioning constitutes a major component of injury prevention. Most athletes can segment their conditioning according to their sport’s seasons. During preseason, the focus should be on strength training and dexterity. The off-season is also a great time to engage in alternate activities so that you’re fresh and excited to get back to your sport when the season arrives once more. Yet no matter when you’re training, orthopaedic specialists will stress that staying hydrated during physical activity is central to keeping your body functioning at an optimal level.

Suburban Orthopaedics offers a wide range of sports medicine services for patients in the greater Bartlett area. Call us today at (888) 876-0117 to set up an appointment with a general orthopaedic surgeon and to discuss our treatment options.