broad scope of back pain care, including physical therapy, minimally invasive approaches and surgery.” Physical Therapy Physical therapy can help relieve pain and swelling, improve range of motion, strength, and stamina – and even help prevent future back injuries. “I find most people benefit from using a multimodal approach to care,” says Kenneth Reynolds, DPT, a physical therapist with Franciscan Health. “These can include manual therapy, exercise and lifestyle changes.” What To Expect Your first physical therapy appointment helps set a baseline for treatment. It allows your therapist to understand your symptoms, assess your strength and mobility, and learn about your goals and expectations. “During the evaluation, we learn about your pain – the level, what makes it better or worse and how it fluctuates during the day,” says Reynolds. Treatments • Application of ice (best for acute back injuries) and heat • Aquatic therapy (low-impact, gentle resistance exercise in a pool) • Cupping (applies suction to the skin to increase blood flow and promote healing) • Dry needling (uses ultra-thin acupuncture needles to relieve pain and swelling) • Electrical stimulation (uses electrodes on the skin to stimulate underlying muscles and improve blood flow) Indiana Golf Journal
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