Low back pain after Yoga Class
A few months ago, I had a patient that came into see me at our Pocatello office by Portneuf Medical Center with a low back pain problem. She is a middle-aged active mom that felt a sharp pain in Yoga Class that caused pain to go down the back of her right leg. Her pain increased with bending, lifting and twisting motions, standing or sitting for too long. Her question was “Bart, is this a back issue or is this sciatica, and how do I get this better?”
Problem: Low back pain is the costliest musculoskeletal injury in the United States. Low back pain affects approximately 80% of adults in the U.S. at some point in their lives, making it a leading cause of disability and reduced quality of life. Contributing factors include sedentary lifestyles and poor posture. Early intervention can prevent chronic issues (Deyo et al., 2019; Maher et al., 2021; Shmagel et al., 2022).
Presentation: Often it can present in several ways from localized pain in low back and hips with limited motion, muscle spasms and pain to the addition of radiating pain that travels down the leg with numbness and/or weakness. The labels for low back pain range from sprain or strain when it is muscular in nature, to disc bulges, disc herniations, spondylosis, sciatica or lumbar radiculopathy when it is properly diagnosed with more severe structural problems. Thank goodness for my Yoga Patient, I was able to use an EMG (nerve test) to confirm only mild nerve compression and early PT treatment was her best start.
Treatment: Therefore, my patient from Yoga Class was in the right place. Superior Physical Therapy is the first stop for spine care. Our team of spine specialists utilize manual therapy techniques, strategic stretches for tight or painful muscle spasms, dry needling, traction for decompression, and pain free exercises to gradually restore function and eliminate pain. Certainly, low back pain could lead to spinal injections or even the need for spine surgery in extreme cases. However, early diagnosis and treatment at physical therapy with a confirmed EMG (nerve test) is the best treatment option along with a little TLC.
Some of the pain free stretches and exercises that can reduce low back pain and sciatica symptoms and shown below and were very successful for my Yoga Class patient. For those trying some of these treatments at home, please recognize that each activity should reduce pain, and we highly recommend an evaluation at one of our locations in Pocatello, American Falls, Fort Hall, Idaho Falls or Rexburg for a complete evaluation in order to achieve the best outcomes. However, this is just the start. As pain reduces, advancement to core and functional strengthening is the way to reduce the risk of pain returning.
If you suffer with low back pain, call today and set up an evaluation with our therapists that specialize in resolving the problem. Our board-certified Doctors of Physical Therapy (DPT), are the highest trained therapists (ECS) in getting to the root of your problem through EMG (nerve testing). It is time to get back to Yoga, basketball, work, and life. Click on our website or call 208-233-2248 for your first step to recovery.
Sincerely,
Bart McDonald, MPT, ECS, FMSK
President Superior Physical Therapy
