Back Pain When Breathing
Just take a deep breath!
Those simple words can be so distressing when you have back pain when breathing.
You might wheeze, feel short of breath, get dizzy or lightheaded, and get tired really quickly. Plus, when it’s hard to breathe without back pain, it can lead to anxiety and even panic!
At State of the Art Physical Therapy in Ashburn, VA, we know how debilitating back pain can be and understand how important it is to get effective physical therapy when it affects your breathing.
We are here to provide you with the most comprehensive and professional care possible to alleviate your back pain, get you breathing easier, and improve your quality of life.
Causes of Back Pain That Make It Hard to Breathe
Back pain when breathing can have its root cause in various factors, like:
- Herniated Discs: If you have a herniated disc, you likely know it means the soft center of your spinal disc is pushing through a tear in the outer layer. Many times, this can compress sensitive nearby nerves and cause pain. That herniated disc pain is often made worse when you breathe, especially when you take a deep breath.
- Muscle Strain: Back muscle overuse or injury can cause muscle strain. Strained muscles are painful as they heal. When you already have sore muscles in your back, the muscle strain pain can intensify with deep breaths.
- Spinal Stenosis: If you have spinal stenosis, where your spinal canal narrows, this can put pressure on your nerves and spinal cord. You probably already have back pain with spinal stenosis, and that pain may worsen when you move in certain ways, and breathing may be one of those movements.
- Other Causes: Several other causes of back pain can get worse when breathing, like rib injuries and lung problems.
Why Choose Physical Therapy for Back Pain in Ashburn, VA?
As a non-invasive and effective treatment for managing back pain, physical therapy helps reduce back pain from herniated discs, muscle strain, spinal stenosis, and several other causes.
Your physical therapist at State of the Art Physical Therapy in Ashburn, VA, can help you improve breathing function and reduce pain and inflammation in the short and long term. Evidence-based physical therapy techniques address the root cause of your back pain that gets worse when you take a deep breath to provide long-lasting relief.
The State of the Art Physical Therapy Approach to Back Pain in Ashburn
At State of the Art Physical Therapy, we take a comprehensive approach to treating your back pain. It begins with a thorough assessment and a tailored care plan. Your physical therapy care plan will combine various therapies for optimal results. Expect your physical therapist to use a combination of manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, and patient education to help you achieve optimal results. Here’s what to expect:
- A Tailored Treatment and Care Plan: You are unique, so you need a customized treatment plan based on your condition, medical history, lifestyle, recovery goals, and other variables.
- Manual Therapy: Your State of the Art physical therapist will use hands-on techniques to reduce your back pain and enhance tissue healing to make it easier for you to breathe.
- Therapeutic Exercises: Specific exercises strengthen the muscles that support your spine, making breathing easier without pain.
- Education and Support: You’ll receive guidance on posture, ergonomics, and lifestyle modifications to address any contributing factors that may worsen your pain.
Our Services
At State of the Art Physical Therapy, we offer a range of services to address back pain when breathing, including:
- Comprehensive Evaluations: Thorough assessments to identify the underlying cause of your pain.
- Manual Therapy: Back pain physical therapy techniques like myofascial release, joint mobilization, and soft tissue massage help alleviate pain and make it easier to breathe without pain.
- Therapeutic Exercises: Customized exercise programs to strengthen, balance, and stabilize your back muscles make breathing easier! Which exercises are best for you depends on the underlying cause of your pain and which muscles are imbalanced or weak.
- Postural Training: Postural training is far more than telling you to sit up straight! Information, guidance, and exercises are needed to improve posture, reduce strain on your back, and make breathing easier.
- Pain Management: Strategies to help manage and reduce your pain, including heat and/or cold therapy, electrical stimulation, and several more.
Ready to take control of your back pain and breathe more easily?
Contact State of the Art Physical Therapy in Ashburn, VA, today to schedule your initial consultation. We’re here to answer your questions and help you get started breathing easy and pain-free.