Back pain treatment that utilizes traditional physical therapy is virtually useless in the management of
nonspecific back pain. Why? Because most physical therapy treatment for back pain fails to address the underlying cause of the problem. Instead, most physical therapy treatment only addresses the patient’s symptoms and that ain’t gonna get the job done.
Here’s a list of the most useless physical therapy treatment methods for back pain:
1. Ultrasound: Ultrasound is a thermal modality that utilizes high frequency sound waves to create mechanical vibration in the tissues resulting in the production of heat. The increase in blood flow from the heat theoretically helps promote healing. Ultrasound is also used to break up scar tissue. And the true benefit? Zilch. That’s right, ultrasound has never been shown to have any impact on back pain. And at $30 for 10 minutes of treatment, if it doesn’t work, why would you pay for it?
2. Hot Packs: Used to increase blood flow to the affected tissue. Because of the absence of evidence to support the effectiveness of hot packs, most insurance companies don’t pay for this modality. Should tell you something.
3. Cold Packs: Cold packs are used to help reduce inflammation in the early stages following an injury. They are also used to control post exercise inflammation. Cold packs are, for the most part, not covered by insurance. Would you pay $20 - $30 to put a cold pack on your back for 10 minutes?
4. Nonspecific Back Exercises: This one really pisses me off. When I see patients being instructed in knees to chest or press up exercises for no other reason than it’s part of the protocol, I absolutely cringe.
5. Electrical Stimulation: Electrical stimulation is used to control pain and reduce muscle spasm. Problem is the benefit is short lived. Cost? $30 for 10-15 minutes.
Listen: there’s nothing unsafe about any of these treatments. I actually use electrical stimulation and moist heat at the end of a patient’s treatment because the patient enjoys it. There’s just zero effect on a person’s ability to function.
In fact, I’d say that if a patient did get better while being treated with these modalities, they got better in spite of the therapist not because of them.
The Erase Your Back Pain program utilizes a precise assessment method to determine the cause of your problem and then gives you the exact back pain exercises to fix the problem.
You can get all the info here ⇒ No More Back Pain!
I welcome your questions and comments below.
Dedicated To Erasing Your Back Pain,
Malton A. Schexneider, PT, MMSc
Clinical Specialist
Orthopaedic Physical Therapist
6 comments ↓
Hello Malton,
I had a microdiscectomy 7 weeks ago and felt immediate relief, after my 6 week exam, my Orthopod asked my my opinion of Physical therapy, I said I thought that a few session would help me get some of the strength in my back, back to normal.
Well here’s the scoop, it was stretches and extentions that were all but 1, performed on my back. You can guess the rest, I felt so much worse after doing them for 3 days I stopped and now even after 3 days of not doing them, I am still very sore in my flanks, buttocks and the are where my incision was.
Needless to say I am not returning to them.
Aqua Therapy was suggested and I have not yet tried that, I was wondering what you think is the best Post Operative approach would be to build myself back up.
Oh, I don’t believe that re herniation is an issue, I have no sciatic pain or limited motion in either of my legs.
Thank You for your time.
Tim Wheeler (Age 53)
Also, I had it done within 3 weeks of the start of the intense pain, none of the less invasive procedures worked and the disc was completely ruptured and leaked out between the vertibrae.
I have been enduring back pain for about 6 months. I have been to chiropractic work and physical therapy. So far nothing has brought any relief.
I wouldn’t mind looking into your program, but I can’t afford it with the costs that I have already incurred. I would be willing to pay on account only if I know that I am getting the relief that I desire.
I look forward to your reply.
Bill Hughes
Hi Malton
Another great post! It’s nice to see a back pain specialist interested in curing his patients rather than just charging them for stuff that has no proven clinical benefit. A lot of therapists seem to just want to profit from their clients’ pain and desperation. It´s nice to receive emails from someone who has his patients´ interests at heart. Please keep posting
I have left sided sciatica and have had a left total hip replacement.
Does this limit the exercises in your treatment?
I have been on your exercise specify program for about 1 month now. It has brought relief to sciatic and back pain. I stopped for the Christmas holidays but started up again yesterday. We bought our kids a WII playsystem with the WII Fit program. QUESTION: What do you think of using the WII Fit Yoga and strength training to compliment your protocols? The WII Fit program uses a balance board that forces you to concentrate on improving your center of balance. In the beginning of the WII Fit program, it mentions physical problems caused by improper hip alignment, improper back alignment (high hip or forward tilt issues).
I tried it all, and finally found an acupunctarist/giropractic, who solved the problem in 4 treatments. It worked, all the pain is gone. I have 2 herniated disks (lumbar 7). The treatment was 4 months ago, so I realize that the discs cannot be repaired, and eventually, the sciatic pain might come back.
Best regards
Peter
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