Lower back, upper back, and neck injuries are unfortunately common among athletes. Here at First Health Physical Therapy, we strive to treat these athletes through Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physical Therapy. We encourage you to visit our back treatment in Midtown to get the help you need for your sports-related injury.

Lower Back Injuries

Lower back injuries are the most common sports-related back injury. These types of injuries are frequently seen in sports, such as golf, running, and weightlifting. These athletes are more susceptible to injuring their lower back during their athletics due to repetitive motions. For example, golfers use a repetitive twisting motion when swinging; Runners use a repetitive impact; and weightlifters repeatedly weight load at the end of a range of motion. These repeated actions in time can cause the overuse of specific muscles in the lower back, specifically the lumbar spine, resulting in injury. If lower back pain due to a sports-related injury is holding you back, don’t wait to see our back treatment in Midtown.

Upper Back Injuries

Upper back injuries are less common during sports due to the thoracic spine being relatively immobile and extra support. However, it is not impossible to obtain a rib fracture, upper back injuries, or muscle strains. These upper back injuries would most likely occur in sports that involve the rotation of the torso. Such sports include weight training, swimming, golf, tennis, and even skiing. Athletes in these sports put a strain on their upper back muscles, which could, unfortunately, result in injury.

Neck Injuries

Sports that involve physical contact are most likely to have neck injuries occur. For example, athletes who play football are susceptible to neck injuries because of the hard tackles and falls. The cervical spine is at risk of being injured during a physical sport like football. Neck injuries are hazardous, but our back treatment in Midtown can address them.

How Our Back Treatment in Midtown Can Help!

Sports injuries are not uncommon, so our doctors are specialized in Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physical Therapy.  Contact our office to schedule an appointment with our back treatment in Midtown if you are experiencing lower back, upper back, or neck pain due to a sports-related injury today.

Lifting heavy objects can be dangerous if executed incorrectly. When lifting, it is crucial to use proper form to prevent injury. If you are experiencing pain from back sprains, strains, or other injuries, a back treatment in Midtown can help! The professional team at First Health PT is dedicated to helping you recover and teach you techniques to prevent future injury!

Weight Lifting as a Form of Exercise

Weight training is a form of exercise that has a variety of benefits for your health and fitness. It helps to build muscle, burn fat, strengthen your bones and joints, and improve heart health. Although there are many benefits to the sport, it can also cause injury if executed with improper form.

Learning the proper form for lifting weights can help to prevent injury and enhance the progress of muscle growth. The top five basic forms of lifting are:

1. Squats
2. Deadlifts
3. Bench press
4. Barbell row
5. Overhead barbell press

If you are interested in the sport of weightlifting, a trainer can help to get you started. If you have a prior injury, a back treatment in Midtown can help you continue your fitness journey after you’ve finished rehab. At First Health PT, we offer Balance Body Programs where a trainer can help you reach your fitness goals.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Lifting

If you are preparing to lift a heavy object, it is important to understand the do’s and don’ts of lifting. Knowing the correct way to set up a lift and mistakes to avoid, can help you avoid strain on your back that will cause injury and pain. Here is a list of some do’s and don’ts to proper lifting etiquette:

Do’s:

• Lift from a squat position and use your legs
• Bend at the knees
• Wear proper shoes with flat heels
• Lift with the help of others
• Wear proper shoes with flat heels
• Lift slowly and gradually

Don’ts:

• Lift with prior medical issues such as joint damage, heart disease, or high blood pressure
• Go past your limits
• Use your back
• Lift with a rounded back
• Lift with straight legs
• Twist while lifting heavy objects

Preventing Back Pain With Proper Lifting Form

A thrown out back is caused by injury to one of the structures that support your back. For example, stretching the muscles or ligaments too far can cause a strain in the lower back. If you are experiencing symptoms of back pain, a back pain doctor in Midtown can help!

Lifting heavy objects can sometimes be unavoidable. If you are lifting for work or sport, it is necessary to practice proper form to avoid strain on your back. Follow these steps to help you prevent injury:

• Warm up the body and stretch before lifting
• Plant your feet firmly on the ground, shoulder-width apart in front of the object
• Bend with your knees and not at the waist
• Keep your back straight while lifting
• Lift with your leg muscles, not your back
• Lift the object close to your body and tighten your core muscles for stability
• Keep your eyes up while lifting to help you maintain better posture

Physical Therapy For Back Injury: Back Treatment In Midtown

If you are seeking a back pain doctor in Midtown, First Health PT is here for you. We provide Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physical Therapy with a focus on improving athletic performance. Our services range from physical therapy, after therapy fitness/personal training, and wellness visits.

We believe in treating the whole person, not just the parts! With genuine and personalized care, each patient can expect the best treatment from an experienced therapist. If you are experiencing back pain from heavy lifting, do not hesitate to get help! Call or visit our website to schedule an appointment and to get started on the journey to feeling your best!

First Health Physical Therapy offers a back treatment in Midtown that is capable of treating a multitude of back-related injuries. For appointment requests, please refer to our contact us page.

Back pain can come from a myriad of things:

• Muscle or ligament strain– heavy lifting or awkward movements that can strain the back muscles and spinal ligament.
• Bulging or ruptured disks- the soft material in the disks in your spin can bulge or rupture, pressing on a nerve causing back pain. Also, consider that bulging or rupturing can occur without any pain.
• Arthritis- can cause a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord. This condition is known as spinal stenosis.
• Osteoporosis-your spine’s vertebrae can develop painful fractures if one’s bones become brittle.

Can footwear cause back pain? 

Feet form the foundation of the spine. Wearing shoes that don’t properly support your body can cause back pain. The biggest offender is high heels. Heels that exceed 1.5 to 2 inches cause your body to take an uncomfortable posture. Heels push your chest and pelvis forward. This throws off the alignment of your spine putting your back muscles under discomfort. This can grossly mess with your spine causing back pain that goes all the way to your legs.

What to do to help? 

Getting rid of or limiting the frequency that you wear heels can help drastically. When wearing heels, do these to help with the discomfort:

• Try not to wear heels for an extended period.
• Alternating between heels and flats can help.
• Wear heels with the no more than two inches
• Don’t wear heels with pointing toes. It can crow your feet, making the pain worse.
•  Perform calf muscle stretches before and, if possible, during the day.

These are just a few ways to limit back pain while wearing high heels.

How Can Our Back Treatment in Midtown help?

Here at First Health PT, we offer expert care to help you with your back pain. Our back treatment in Midtown has years of experience dealing with patients that suffer from back pain. So if you are suffering from back pain, contact us today to see how we can help.