At Next Level Physio, we understand that dealing with lower back pain can be an overwhelming challenge that affects every aspect of your life. 

Our mission is to provide you with the knowledge, tools, and personalized guidance you need to conquer this discomfort and regain control over your daily activities. 

In this comprehensive guide, we will dive into how lower back pain can keep you stuck, offer valuable insights, and present effective strategies to help you not just manage, but finally overcome this condition.

Understanding the Impact of Low Back Pain

You might have been told that lower back pain is a common issue that may stem from various factors, such as poor posture, muscle imbalances, injuries, or medical conditions. 

You might also have been told that if you work on your “core” that your back pain will resolve…if that’s the case, why do many of our clients with a six-pack come in with back pain, and why are some of our clients who are (initially) out of shape, pain-free in their lower back?

Listen, with low back pain, it’s not that simple. 

We do know that the SYMPTOMS of lower back pain can range from a dull ache to sharp, shooting sensations, and it often restricts your ability to move freely. 

But, again, that’s only part of the picture because we haven’t talked about all the possible SOURCES of low back pain.

Lower Back Pain Trivia 

1. Did you know that how you BREATHE can affect back pain?  
2. Did you know that clients come in with misdiagnosed “sciatica” all the time?
3. Did you know that unless you address the ribcage and pelvis mechanics, you won’t get the full picture of the true state of your lower back?
4. Did you know that certain types of stressors can keep your body inflamed and stunted from ever healing?
5. Did you know that sleep plays a direct role in low back pain recovery?

That’s why we know that every client with low back pain has a unique story and experience, which is why our whole-person approach at Next Level Physio is tailored to your specific needs.

Total Back Assessment for Personalized Care

Our journey together begins with a comprehensive assessment of…not your symptoms. 

Before we even scratch the surface, we need to talk about YOU.

• Why did you even come to see us? 
• What was the urgency to come to see our expert team now?
• What solution or result were you hoping to get out of PT that you haven’t already tried?  
• What is your next level result?

Our experienced team of physical therapists at Next Level Physio takes the time to explore your medical history, lifestyle…and dreams. 

“I never thought I would get back to running so soon…and I never thought I would PR my marathon time.” -Chrissy

By delving into the root causes of your low back pain, we can create a customized plan that addresses not only the symptoms but also the underlying issues contributing to your discomfort.

Solving Two Diagnoses for Lower Back Pain

At Next Level Physio, we believe that the path to overcoming low back pain involves treating for two diagnoses:

1. your “symptoms” which is the pain you’re coming in with
2. the SOURCE of your symptoms

That’s why we use a combination of regenerative breathing and a tailor-made recovery program unique to your needs.   

Our experts will guide you through targeted exercises designed to improve your posture, strengthen supportive muscles, and enhance your overall movement options. By working together, our goal is for you to have a transformation and become the best version of you.

Empowering Education through Recovery of Lower Back Pain

Education is the cornerstone of our approach. We want you to understand your body and its mechanics, enabling you to take an active role in your recovery. 

Armed with this information, you can make informed decisions about your treatment and daily habits.

The Next Level Physio Difference

Choosing Next Level Physio means choosing a partner dedicated to your continued well-being BEYOND physical therapy. 

That’s right, it doesn’t make sense for us to provide a quick fix or help you get to feeling just “ok,” otherwise, what was the whole point?  

Our commitment to go above and beyond to provide personalized care, science-based practices, and ongoing support even after you’re “done” with physical therapy is what sets us apart. 

We also practice what we preach, which is why we really understand our active clients. In fact, we’re frequently told, “I’ve never been to a healthcare provider where everyone is in shape and lives an active lifestyle!”

We’ve had physical setbacks over the years, too, so we know what it’s like to be sidelined from our favorite activities that provide us with the mental health boost we need to make it through the day.  

A Glimpse into Your Pain-Free Future with Treatment from Next Level Physio for Lower Back Pain

Imagine waking up every day without the burden of low back pain. Picture yourself engaging in activities you love, whether it’s playing sports, spending time with loved ones, or simply enjoying life to the fullest. 

At Next Level Physio, we want to turn that vision into reality. 

Through our comprehensive whole person approach, personalized care, and unwavering dedication, we’re confident in our ability to guide you on the path to recovery. Let us be your partner in this transformative journey toward a life free from the limitations of lower back pain.

Your Next Step Toward Living Life Fully…for Today

You’ve suffered long enough, and if you’ve read this article, it’s time to make a decision about how you want to invest in yourself.  You’ve worked hard your entire life, and now it’s time to make it happen…for your body. 

Our completely-free total back assessment (valued at $199) is our way of building your certainty in our expert team.  If you’re in the north NJ or Cary, NC area, click here to choose one of our nearest locations and schedule your personalized assessment.  Take the first stride toward a pain-free, limitless, empowered future. 

*Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment of your condition.*

The post Are You Still Suffering from Lower Back Pain? Find out how to Empower Your Journey & Finally Overcome Your Lower Back Pain appeared first on Next Level Physio.

Do you struggle to walk the 18-hole rounds and what was once a way for you to socialize, unwind and have fun with your golfing buddies is becoming a source of your aches and pains?

Have you had nasty, sharp shoulder pain when you driving off the tee lately?

Golfers visit our clinics regularly, and these are problems we help people with all the time.

But if you are starting to notice that you’re too stiff and immobile to play as well as you used to, or you get pain during a round, here is a cautionary tale…

Golfers Who Get Help

A lot of golfers recognize something isn’t right, and seek the experts at our clinic.

Shortly after, their pain goes away, mobility improves, and they can play golf as often as they like.

Many even improve their game too!

With a variety of treatment options such as shockwave therapy, hands on rehabilitation and much more, this is absolutely possible without having to mask the pain with pills, or risk injections and surgery.

The Golfers Who Do Not Get Help

But a smaller portion of golfers with these problems, do not get help.

So what happens to them?

It starts off as a minor inconvenience.

A little stiffness in the lower back when they pick up the ball.

A little soreness in their knee as they walk the course.

A little pain in their elbow the next few days after a round of golf.

It’s manageable (although annoying).

“It’s not too bad, I can handle it.” they say to themselves.

But over time, it becomes more severe, and more frequent until they can’t play as often as they like…

They drop that mid-week round of golf or stop going to the driving range on the weeks that they play a round with their friends…

“Maybe I just need to rest up a little, and it’ll get better.” they say to themselves.

And over the next few months, the problem doesn’t seem so bad.

So it’s fixed?

Not quite.

Because another few months pass, and the pain is back, the tightness is back, and the discomfort is back.

And now it’s not just confined to the golf course.

Their shoulders start to hurt when they load the groceries into the car, or play catch with their grandkids.

Their back starts to hurt on a daily basis, and means they are wake up exhausted after terrible sleep every night.

“I’ll go to the doctor, take these pills and rest a little more.” they say to themselves.

And you probably know how this goes…

The doctor says “take these pills, and rest” – even though you’ve already done that.

You don’t know what to do.

You’re lost, confused, and missing the happiness that playing a round of golf gives you.

Because now you only play golf once a month, when you used to play 2-3 times every week.

And you’re suffering in the other areas of your life too as you’ve become weaker, more injury prone and just feel awful!

“Maybe my golfing days are behind me, I just can’t take it any more.” they say to themselves.

But this is NOT true.

And our patients are proof of this.

We have patients who are well into their retirement, playing golf multiple times per week, and not dealing with pain, stiffness and injuries.

How?

They came to the experts at our clinics.

So if any of this cautionary tale sounds familiar, we can help – whatever stage of the story you are in!

If it’s just a little niggling ache as you reach the final few holes.

Or a constant pain that’s with your from the first hole, we can help.

Get Back To Pain-Free Golf And Play Multiple Times Every Week!

We have four clinics in the area (Cary, Montclair, Morrisville, and Woodcliff Lake), and demand is extremely high right now, however, we do offer a limited number of appointments for Free Golf Movement Screenings.

This appointment is 1-1 with an expert physical therapist, who will listen to your story, and then provide you with personalized advice to get you playing more golf, driving further off the tee, and reducing your handicap!

Arrange Your Free Golf Movement Screening.

Click the link above, or contact us on 201-746-9966 to arrange your Free Golf Movement Screening today.

Want More Free Expert Advice So You Can Enjoy An Active Life Without Pain?

Read our blog – 4 Of The Best Golf Stretches To Reduce Pain, Stiffness, And Tight Muscles

Read our blog – 3 Reasons Why You’re Still Having Knee Pain And Can’t Run, Bike, Or Squat!

Follow us on our social media – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

The post A Warning To Golfers Struggling With Mobility And Pain appeared first on Next Level Physio.

Maybe you’re back to CrossFit, or baseball, or trying to build up your running distance again.

But whatever your passion, you notice that you’re a lot stiffer, a lot slower, and today, you’re in a lot of pain!

This is a really important moment because what can happen is that people say…

“I must be getting old, and I can’t do [insert sport or hobby] as I used to.”

And they give up on the thing they love.

Please do NOT do this!

People stop going to the gym and miss out on that feeling of heart-pounding, heavy breathing, and pride after they’ve got through a tough workout.

Or they only play golf once a week or cut down to 9-hole rounds rather than the full 18-holes to try and avoid their back pain.

Maybe they stop playing basketball altogether because their knees just get too sore, and they struggle to move for days after a game.

These are all very real choices people make which massively impact their lives.

Because sports and exercises aren’t just hobbies.

For some, it’s their way to destress from a high-pressure work day.

For others, it’s their “me time” when they get to recharge away from their family life.

For others, it’s their chance to socialize with team mates, and enjoy some competition.

Whatever the reason you love your sport or exercise, don’t fall for the trap of thinking you’re getting too old, have too many past injuries, or you simply can’t play as much as you used to.

Because it’s not true!

We have worked with thousands of people who love to keep active but hit a wall because of aches and pains.

Knee pain, hip pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, back pain…

You name it – we’ve seen it all.

And our expert team has helped people just like you get back to sports and exercise when they thought they were getting too old, or that they’d have to compromise and do less than they want to.

How?

There are many treatment options available at our clinics (Cary, Montclair, Morrisville, Woodcliff), and we focus on natural, proven ways to end your injuries, stiffness, and pain, while improving your performance.

So if you aren’t ready to throw in the towel just yet, and you want to enjoy your sports and exercise this year, see the experts at Next Level Physio.

To help you get started, we offer Free Discovery Visits where you can speak to an expert, get your questions answered, and discover the best options available to you.

It’s 100% free, and people love that they can discover what options are available, and feel empowered to make their own choice about their health.

You can also speak to our team over the phone at 201-746-9966 – we would love to get you faster, stronger, and playing better than you ever have before!

Relieve Aches And Pains Right Now

If you are stiff, and aching after a workout, it might be tempting to think rest is the solution.

After all, we are all told when we are younger to go to sleep and it’ll be fine by the morning, or we are told to rest after a visit to the doctor.

But actually, movement can actually help to reduce soreness after a workout and help you recover faster.

So, try to keep moving and going about your normal day even if you’re feeling a little stiff and uncomfortable.

Aim to move every 30 minutes and this should help.

If your pain is too severe to move, speak to our team immediately as you may have a more sinister injury that needs treating.

More Resources For Enjoy Your Sports And Exercise Pain-Free

Read our blog – 3 Reasons Why You’re Still Having Knee Pain And Can’t Run, Bike, Or Squat!

Read our blog – March Into Fitness

Follow us on our social media – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

The post Don’t Give Up If You’re Aching After Your First Game, Or After Getting Back Into The Gym appeared first on Next Level Physio.

Most people struggle with sitting and standing up straight. Many of us can remember as teenagers being told by our parents and teachers that good posture was the key to good health later in life!

Back then we all rolled our eyes, as this demand seemed annoying. However, as we grow older, we realize that good posture goes beyond appearances and looking confident. Sitting and standing with good spinal alignment can actually help prevent back pain.

Physical therapists are great at teaching patients how to practice proper posture. Your physical therapist will help you to understand the importance of it, and give you the education necessary to make sure you’re achieving excellent posture every day.

If you’re experiencing back pain, it could be because of poor posture. Let our clinic help you discover the benefits of physical therapy for back pain. Contact Next Level Physio today to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist!

How Does Good Posture Relieve Back Pain?

Your spine is meant to operate in a specific way. Each time you move, sit, or stand in ways that disrupt the correct position and operation of your spine, you can end up creating long term problems.

Practicing good posture with the help of a licensed physical therapist is one way that you can work to minimize back pain. When you begin physical therapy, you will learn how to develop good posture, recognize when you are not practicing good posture, and discover many ways that healthy patterns of movement can minimize your back pain.

Some ways that developing good posture through physical therapy can help you with avoiding back pain are as follows:

1. Avoiding Incorrect Anatomical Changes

Did you know that the ways in which you use your spine can actually cause changes in your anatomy? It’s true. Sitting hunched over can cause excess stress and can eventually lead to damage of your spinal discs, muscles, joints and the nerves and blood vessels traveling through your spine. Thankfully in most cases the damage can be reversed by physical therapy. Targeted exercises, stretches, and education can help your body learn to sit and stand correctly!

2. Good Posture Encourages Flexibility and Strength

If you haven’t had good posture for a long period of time anyways, it’s probably best to assume that learning to maintain it isn’t going to be the easiest thing to do. It might take time in physical therapy to gain the strength and flexibility you need to keep ideal posture and spinal alignment. According to the Mayo Clinic, “correct posture can boost your productivity and mood, as well as help you use your muscles more efficiently.”

The work you do and the effort you put in with your physical therapist to achieve your goal will lead to greater overall fitness. The more flexible you get, the stronger you’ll be, and the less likely you are to suffer from nagging back pain every day.

3. Improved Posture With Everyday Activities

Most of the time when we hear the term “good posture” we think of how we sit or stand, but good posture is important in everything we do!

In physical therapy, your therapist will teach you how to maintain good posture during sports and everyday activities such as running or walking. Improving your overall posture will lessen the wear and tear you put on your spine every day. This will also minimize your risk of developing back pain from these activities.

4. Encourages Good Circulation

Maintaining the proper spinal alignment means that your veins will not be as constricted by pressure on your vertebrae. There are many components of your spine that require proper circulation to operate the right way and to reform from daily wear and tear.

It might seem like a daunting task, but as your physical therapist guides you through the different physical therapy exercises and techniques that help with maintaining good posture, you will improve at keeping the alignment required for proper circulation.

5. Prevents Back Pain Caused by Improper Lifting

If you constantly lift heavy objects, you definitely need to make sure you have good posture! Good posture is a critical component of lifting objects without hurting yourself. If you lift and fail to use good posture, there is a much higher risk that you will hurt your back.

Ask your physical therapist how to maintain proper posture while lifting. They will be able to show you how to properly lift things, and also guide you through exercises to hold the right posture.

Visit Our Office Today For Your Back Pain

If you are suffering from back pain, chances are it could be the result of poor posture. Contact Next Level Physio today to get set up for a consultation with one of our licensed physical therapists!

Source:

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/posture-align-yourself-for-good-health/art-20269950

The post Got Back Pain? Your Posture May Be The Culprit appeared first on Next Level Physio.