If that’s happening to you, you’re not alone. Approximately 80 percent of adults experience low back pain at some point in their lifetimes. Back pain and sciatica are THE most common problems that we see in our Physical Therapy clinic in Los Altos, CA. We also treat people in the surrounding cities of Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Palo Alto, Campbell, Santa Clara and San Jose.

Back pain is a broad term used to describe a number of conditions that may lead to pain, stiffness, and other symptoms involving the upper or lower back.

Back pain is so common because its leading risk factors are common, too—such as poor posture, slips and falls, auto accidents, sports injury, heavy lifting, repetitive bending/twisting and prolonged sitting, advancing age, and even obesity.

Back pain can be acute, lasting just a few days to a few weeks, or chronic, lasting for months or even years. Common causes include stenosis, osteoporosis, degenerative disc disease, disc bulge, and muscle spasms or strains. Sometimes, the exact cause of your underlying back pain might be unknown. These cases are known as “idiopathic” back pain. Fortunately, research shows that even idiopathic cases of back pain can respond well to a personalized treatment plan with a physical therapist!

Sciatica is a syndrome that can cause back pain as well as other symptoms, including searing, shooting, burning, or stabbing pain down one or both legs. It occurs when one or rarely both of your sciatic nerves become pinched or irritated by something—often a disc, narrowed joint space, or bony cyst. The sciatic nerves branch off from the spinal cord in your lower back and are the largest nerves in your body. They carry motor and sensory information to and from your legs.

We are happy to talk to you about how PhysioFit Physical Therapy & Wellness can help people in Los Altos, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and San Jose, CA.

• First, make a decision about getting help. Many people procrastinate too long, thinking that back pain will ‘just go away with time’, but then 6 months later they’re still putting up with it, and nothing’s changed… or it gets worse.
• Next, do the RIGHT exercises. One of the best things to help you ease your back pain is to do the right series of guided exercises - the right exercises given to you by a physical therapist to help reduce pain, and allow you to move freely again - and make sure that the problems don’t come back anytime soon (or aggravate your back even more like some exercises do).
• Avoid sitting and long periods of rest. Ever tried to get up from the sofa after resting for a while, but you struggle because your back feels so painful and tight? That’s because one of the worst things you can do that adds to back pain is rest, and sit for long periods of time. Too much rest, and sitting in awkward positions makes your back stiff and tight. It would really help to get the appropriate strengthening exercises for better posture, alongside hands-on treatment, to get you active and healthy as quickly as possible.
• Get Real, Customized Physical Therapy Treatment. PT is proven to help people with low back pain and lower the cost to manage it. If your back pain is affecting your job, your ability to keep active, or gets in the way of spending quality time with family and friends - physical therapy can help get you back to living the life you love.

If you would like to know how PhysioFit can help you live with less Back Pain - we invite you to start with a completely free, no-obligation, risk free conversation: