Improving Quality of Life: Exploring Physical Therapy Techniques for Degenerative Disc Disease
Are you an adult who’s been dealing with persistent back pain? You may have developed degenerative disc disease (DDD), which isn’t so much a disease but a name to describe pain and discomfort that develops due to age-related changes in the spine. Fortunately, several physical therapy techniques offer effective relief for DDD.
The St. Pete Physical Therapy team regularly helps people with DDD manage their symptoms. We’ll help strengthen your core muscles and improve spine mobility, which helps stabilize and support the spine thereby reducing pain and improving spinal mobility in the process. We also offer several drug-free options for acute pain management.
Today, we want to explore some of our favorite physical therapy techniques for managing degenerative disc disease. Keep reading to learn more about them and how our St. Petersburg, FL physical therapists can help reduce your back pain and improve your quality of life!
A Closer Look at Degenerative Disc Disease
Nestled between each vertebra in your spine is an intervertebral disc–a soft, flexible cushion that allows for spinal movement. As we age, these discs can lose hydration and elasticity.
Degenerative disc disease occurs when this deterioration causes pain and limits mobility. It can also lead to other issues like herniated discs or spinal stenosis, which can further contribute to pain and stiffness.
Signs of DDD
- Long-term pain in the neck, mid back or lower back
- Pain that worsens with movements like bending, lifting, or twisting
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs (assuming DDD is affecting your nerves)
- Muscular weakness, particularly in the legs.
It’s important to remember that these changes in your spinal discs are a normal part of aging. However, persistent discomfort doesn’t have to be! Physical therapy offers several options to help alleviate your symptoms so you can stay happy and healthy.
Five Effective Physical Therapy Techniques for DDD
Manual Therapy
- We use these hands-on techniques to provide acute pain relief, reduce mobility restrictions, and promote blood flow to your back. Examples include spinal mobilizations, in which we guide the spine through its current range of motion, and soft tissue manipulation, in which we use our hands to work out restrictions in your back’s muscles, tendons, or ligaments.
Pain-Relieving Modalities
- In need of additional pain management? Treatment modalities like hot and cold therapy, electrical stimulation, myofascial cupping and dry needling can further reduce pain, making it easier for you to work through physical therapy and feel better throughout the day.
Therapeutic Exercise
- Exercise is one of the primary physical therapy techniques for addressing DDD, especially core strengthening exercises. Your core comprises the muscles that wrap around and support your spine, as well as the large muscles in your legs and the muscles in the front and in the back of the shoulders. A strong core reduces the load on your spinal discs, helping to prevent further deterioration and alleviate pain in the long term.
Posture Corrections
- Maintaining good posture throughout the day is essential in alleviating stress on the spine. Our therapists will help you understand what “good posture” means for you, including tips for staying aware of your spine’s alignment.
Lifestyle Modifications
- We’ll provide personalized suggestions on modifying your activities to manage DDD symptoms. Setting up an ergonomic workstation and taking frequent breaks from sitting are too common suggestions that can work wonders!
Which Physical Therapy Techniques Will Work For You?
Just because your spinal discs change as you get older doesn’t mean you have to live with persistent discomfort or limited mobility. Physical therapy at St. Pete Physical Therapy can help relieve your pain and improve your overall function.
Ready to find out what we can do for you? Schedule an appointment today!