Physical therapy for treating back problems

To help ease symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis, which causes nerve damage and lower back pain as one ages, physical therapy may work just as well as surgery, according to a new study by the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Lumber spinal stenosis occurs when open spaces in the lower spinal column are compressed. As a result, you may experience tingling, weakness, pinched nerves and even numbness in the back area and your lower extremities. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons estimate that by 2021, approximately 2.4 million Americans may have the disease.

The study compared patients who were at least 50 years of age who sought treatment through physical therapy and surgery. It found that in the course of two years, the two groups of patients had similar reduction in symptoms and pain, no matter if they had surgery or used physical therapy for treatment.

The University of Pittsburgh’s study offers great news for a number of reasons:

• Reduces surgical risks. Even though medicine has advanced considerable over the past decades, there are still major risks associated with going into surgery. Recovery times can be significant and often times result in the need for physical therapy on top of the surgery.
  
• Cuts healthcare costs. Surgeries cost thousands of dollars. Compared to that, the cost of physical therapy is relatively minor. With physical therapy bringing the same results as surgery for this back pain, it makes sense from a cost perspective.
  
• Prepare for the future. With the aging population in the U.S., it’s important that we find alternatives to treat medical conditions. Physical therapy serves as another avenue for treatment, which opens up the doors for many people who suffer from lower back pain.

If you have lumbar spinal stenosis or think you may have it, consult a medical professional and determine if physical therapy makes sense as the next step in your treatment plan.

Delitto A., Piva SR, Moore CG, Fritz JM, et al. " Surgery versus nonsurgical treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis: a randomized trial." Annals of Internal Medicine 162.7 (2015): 465-73. Print.