Managing Your Back and Neck Pain With Physical Therapy

Back pain and neck pain are common medical problems for both women and men, typically becoming more common with age. Fortunately, many types of chronic back and neck pain can be relieved with physical therapy, helping you feel better without the need for more invasive treatments like surgery.

A top-ranked provider of physical therapy with offices in Kihei, Kahului, and Lahaina, Hawaii,

Minit Medical Urgent Care and Physical Therapy offers island-wide care for patients suffering from chronic neck and back pain. Read on to find out how our expert team uses physical therapy to provide meaningful, long-lasting relief from nagging chronic pain conditions.

Quick facts about back and neck pain

Lots of issues can cause painful symptoms in your back or neck. While acute pain is typically temporary and associated with a recent injury or a day of unusually strenuous activity, chronic pain is long-lasting. Without proper treatment, it can affect nearly every aspect of your life, from mobility and energy to sleep and mental health.

Chronic pain is often associated with a compressed or “pinched” nerve. This type of pain is called neuropathic pain, and it causes symptoms like sharp pain, dull aching, numbness, and pins-and-needles sensations anywhere along the path of the compressed nerve.

Other times, chronic pain follows a traumatic injury like a fall, car accident, or sport injury. Some people have chronic back or neck pain that’s due to degenerative conditions, like arthritis, or other spine-related issues, like scoliosis.

Even though chronic pain can have different causes (and cause varying symptoms), one thing remains true across all these differences: Physical therapy can help you feel better.

Benefits of physical therapy

Physical therapy uses a variety of exercises, stretches, and other techniques to relieve pain and prevent it from recurring. One of the biggest benefits of physical therapy is that it’s customizable. That means every aspect of your therapy can be adjusted over time as you make progress with your treatment. 

Physical therapy uses specific exercises and stretches, combined with massage therapy and other techniques, to improve circulation around the site of your pain. Better blood flow means the injured tissues get the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal more quickly. 

Therapy also targets inflammation, a common cause of chronic pain, using techniques like cold and heat therapy, massage, and special stretches and exercises. As inflammation subsides, you’ll find movement and range of motion improve, as pain decreases. 

Depending on the cause of your pain, our team can teach you techniques that can help prevent pain in the future, including methods you can use at work and during the physical activities you enjoy. Many physical therapy plans incorporate strengthening exercises to tone muscles that support your back and neck, relieving strain and preventing it in the future.

Find a solution that works for you

Our team is skilled in working with patients of all ages, and we welcome tourists as well as locals. To learn more about how we can help you find relief for your chronic back or neck pain, book an appointment online or over the phone with Minit Medical Urgent Care and Physical Therapy today.