Low Back Pain

If low back pain interferes with your normal daily routine, help is available through the care of Kevin McGovern, PT, CSCS, at Perfect Motion Sports Therapy in Acton, Massachusetts. Don’t let low back pain leave you on the sidelines of your own life when treatments can improve your ability to move and function. Call the office or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment today. 

What does low back pain feel like?

Your low back, which is also called your lumbar region, encompasses the portion of your back that begins beneath your ribcage and extends down to your pelvis. Almost everyone experiences pain in this area at some point. 

Low back pain can create a number of different sensations. The pain might be:

• Dull
• Sharp
• Stabbing
• Throbbing
• Intermittent
• Steady

Chronic low back pain persists for a period of three months or longer. It can range in severity from mild to nearly incapacitating, and can easily cause significant discomfort throughout your days or nights.  

What are some common causes of low back pain?

In some cases, a traumatic injury or congenital condition leads to significant pain in the lower back. Often, however, low back pain begins with movement dysfunction. 

Your body is designed to move, but there is only one way to move correctly. When you place your musculoskeletal system under strain, your body communicates that something is wrong through pain signals. 

Overextended muscles is a common cause of back pain. When you push your muscles too far beyond their limits, tissue damage and significant pain follow. Poor posture is another common source of low back pain.  

How can physical therapy treat low back pain?

The first step in creating a customized physical therapy plan is getting to the bottom of the source of your pain. Graded Active Movement Exam (G.A.M.E.), is a functional movement test created by Dr. McGovern. 

This diagnostic tool pinpoints the cause of your pain and how the pain likely developed. Treatment planning happens at the initial visit, and you begin guided exercises or manual therapy immediately. 

Exercise focuses on improving strength and flexibility in the tissues supporting your low back. Improvement not only reduces pain, but it also helps reduce the risk of further injury. 

Testing at the end of the visit helps gauge the effectiveness of your therapy plan. This process repeats during each session, providing you with real-time feedback on your treatment progression. 

When you’re ready to try a new approach to your low back pain, schedule a visit at Perfect Motion Sports Therapy online or by phone today.