Physical therapy for mid back pain

The symptoms of mid back pain

As symptoms tend to differ depending on the cause and severity of the patient’s condition, the symptoms of middle back pain can vary greatly from person to person. For some patients, mid back pain may be brief and mild, resolving itself after just a few days. For others, the pain may be chronic, grow more severe over time, or interfere with their ability to go about their daily tasks.

The symptoms most commonly associated with mid back pain include sharp, stabbing pain; general discomfort or an aching sensation; stiffness and reduced mobility; radiating pain that travels into the arms, chest, or lower back; and tingling, numbness, and weakness. Most patients likely won’t experience all of these symptoms.

The most common symptoms of mid back pain include:

• Pain
• Discomfort
• Stiffness
• Weakness
• Numbness
• Tingling

Physical therapy for mid back pain

Physical therapy is a front-line treatment for mid back pain; typically, patients can avoid surgery — or recover from surgery more quickly — with the assistance of a licensed physical therapist. Pinched nerves, herniated discs, and osteoarthritis, for example, can be improved with physical therapy. Postural training can also help patients to maintain a straight spine throughout the day.

While physical therapy routines will vary from patient to patient depending on their individual needs, common methods of treating mid back pain include deep tissue massage, hot and cold therapies, ultrasound, and stretching and strengthening exercises. Most physical therapy routines designed to treat mid back pain consist of a combination of these methods.