Experience Leading Back Pain Treatment at One of Maryland’s Top Physical Therapy Centers
Back pain is a common issue for many, but physical therapy offers a safe and effective path to relief—without the need for addictive medications.
From Our Friends at the APTA
If you’re dealing with low back pain, you’re far from alone. Around 25% of Americans report experiencing low back pain in any given three-month period. While most cases are mild and resolve on their own, for others, the pain can become persistent or recurrent—impacting daily life, limiting mobility, and in some cases, leading to long-term disability.
Physical therapy is one of the most effective ways to reduce pain, restore movement, and avoid unnecessary interventions. Despite how common back pain is, it’s often treated with approaches that don’t align with current clinical guidelines—resulting in over-treatment, including unnecessary surgeries or opioid prescriptions.
So, what really works for back pain?
According to a 2018 report in The Lancet, best-practice guidelines have shifted away from heavy reliance on medications and surgery. Instead, they emphasize self-management, physical therapy, psychological support, and select complementary treatments.
If your back pain isn’t tied to a recent injury, here’s what you should prioritize:
Low back pain can present in many different ways. It might feel dull, burning, or sharp; it could be isolated to one spot or spread across a wider area. Some people experience stiffness, muscle spasms, or pain that radiates down one or both legs.
Low back pain generally falls into three categories:
Acute – Pain lasting less than 3 months
Recurrent – Acute pain that returns periodically
Chronic – Pain persisting for longer than 3 months
While most episodes of acute low back pain resolve on their own, many people experience recurring flare-ups. In fact, having one episode increases your chances of future recurrences. Interestingly, the exact cause of low back pain often isn’t identified. In recent years, research has shown that psychosocial factors—such as self-confidence, mood, and one’s beliefs about pain—can significantly influence recovery outcomes.
The way we understand back pain has evolved. It was once thought to be caused solely by structural issues in the spine, but we now recognize that it’s a more complex condition involving both physical and psychological factors.
Although low back pain is rarely dangerous or life-threatening, it can sometimes be associated with conditions like:
Degenerative disc disease
Lumbar spinal stenosis
Vertebral fractures
Herniated discs
Osteoarthritis
Osteoporosis
Spinal tumors
However, studies have shown that many of these conditions are also found in people who have no symptoms at all. This means that the presence of these changes on imaging does not always explain the pain, highlighting the need for a more holistic, evidence-based approach to treatment.
Your physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation that includes:
A review of your health history.
Questions about your specific symptoms.
A thorough examination that includes assessing the quality and quantity of your movements, and any movement behaviors that might put you at risk for delayed recovery.
Tests to identify signs or symptoms that could indicate a serious health problem, such as broken bones or cancer.
Assessment of how you use your body at work, at home, during sports, and at leisure.
For most cases of low back pain imaging tests, such as x-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are not helpful for recovery. For example, in a recently published article comparing patients who received an MRI first vs physical therapy first for low back pain, the patients who received an MRI first spent on average $4,793 more (with similar outcomes in each group). If your physical therapist suspects that your low back pain might be caused by a serious health condition, the therapist will refer you to other health care professionals for further evaluation.
In Maryland, physical therapy offers a highly effective, non-invasive option for managing low back pain—often helping patients avoid costly surgeries or the side effects of pain medications. A licensed Maryland physical therapist can help restore your mobility, reduce discomfort, and guide you toward long-term relief.
If you’re currently experiencing low back pain:
Stay active and try to maintain as much of your normal routine as possible. Contrary to old advice, extended bed rest—especially longer than a day—can actually delay your recovery.
If your pain persists for more than a few days or begins to worsen, it’s time to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist in Maryland. Because not all back pain is the same, treatment should be personalized based on your specific symptoms, lifestyle, and contributing factors.
After a thorough evaluation, your physical therapist will identify the root causes of your pain and develop a customized treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Your plan may include:
Manual therapy, such as spinal mobilization or manipulation, to improve joint and soft tissue mobility
Targeted exercises to strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and support your spine
Education on posture, movement, and strategies to prevent future flare-ups
Training on proper techniques for lifting, bending, sitting, and sleeping to reduce strain
Guidance on developing a safe and sustainable physical activity routine for better overall health
Pain relief techniques, such as heat, ice, or electrical stimulation, as appropriate
Whether you’re in Baltimore, Bethesda, Columbia, or anywhere else in Maryland, expert care is available to help you recover and move forward—without surgery or medication dependency.
Comprehensive Care for Optimal Recovery
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