Chronic pain can feel like a shadow that never leaves your side. For many, it disrupts work, play, and even sleep and can weigh heavily on a person’s emotional and mental well-being. Fortunately, physical therapy offers several potential management options, including manual therapy for chronic pain.
At Preferred Therapy Services, we often help people living with long-term pain navigate their symptoms so they can live active, rich lives. Today, we want to share the story of Brian (not his real name), a man in his 40s who had been struggling with lower back pain for years. In particular, we want to highlight how our hands-on manual therapy techniques play a key role in his treatment.
Brian’s Story: How Manual Therapy Helped Him Find Relief
The Impact of Chronic Back Pain
Brian was a computer programmer who had been battling chronic lower back pain for nearly two years. His pain began gradually–just a dull ache after a long day at work–but worsened over time.
He tried everything: ergonomic chairs, stretching routines, and, eventually, prescription pain medications. Still, the pain persisted, and so did his frustration.
He began to limit his physical activity, like skipping out on a hike while on vacation with his family. Simple tasks like grocery shopping or picking up his child became painful chores. It became clear to Brian that his pain was costing him the ability to live fully.
That’s when he came to Preferred Therapy Services, hoping for a fresh approach to his recovery.
A Personalized Treatment Plan
During his first visit, we led Brian through a thorough physical assessment to help us understand why he was struggling with back pain. We took a health history and learned more about his work. We also performed some simple movement screens. There, his therapist discovered mobility restrictions in his lumbar spine, tightness in the surrounding soft tissue, and poor postural alignment. All these factors were contributing to his discomfort.
We designed a customized treatment plan that incorporated manual therapy for chronic pain as the first step in his program. We knew Brian would benefit from therapeutic exercise, postural corrections, and other more active techniques, but we wanted to prepare his body first.
The Three Manual Therapy Techniques That Helped Brian Find Relief
Soft Tissue Mobilization
Using firm yet controlled pressure, our therapist worked through layers of muscles and myofascia (a connective web that wraps around the muscle) in Brian’s lower back and hips, helping to increase blood flow to the area and reduce pain sensitivity in the surrounding tissue.
Myofascial Release
Soft tissue mobilization was a good start, but we wanted to go deeper. We used myofascial release to target deeper tension in his myofascia. Brian’s myofascia had become tense and restricted, which was contributing to his pain. Releasing that restriction was key to improving his symptoms.
Joint Mobilization
We also gently guided Brian’s spinal joints through their current range of motion, helping to reduce stiffness and improve alignment. As a result, Brian could better maintain his posture while sitting and standing, which reduced mechanical stress on his lower back. Improved spinal mobility also improved his overall functional movement, preparing him for his prescribed exercises.
Brian’s Results
After a few weeks of consistent manual therapy for chronic pain, Brian noticed a significant improvement in his pain levels and overall mobility. These improvements only increased as we incorporated targeted therapeutic exercises into his treatment plan, particularly core strengthening activities.
Ready to Move Past the Pain?
If chronic pain is keeping you from doing the things you love, it’s time to try a different approach. At Preferred Therapy Services, our experienced team combines manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, patient education, and more to find the right treatment for your needs.
Contact our Highland, CA clinic today to start your journey toward lasting relief and restored function. Let us help you move better, feel better, and live better.
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