Back Exercise Therapy

The goal of physical therapy is to increase flexibility in an injured part of the body and strengthen the muscle as it heals. Back and shoulder physical therapy is necessary to loosen the muscle and joints after an injury. Everyone's injury is different, and while you'll need a custom physical therapy program laid out by a licensed therapist, there are basic back and shoulder exercises that will help you in between visits.

Lower back pain can be debilitating to anyone, even those physically fit. Injury, poor stretching or overexertion can all cause mild to severe back pain. Doing some daily exercises and stretches to strengthen the back will build muscle and loosen tense ones to help prevent further injury and relieve the pain.

Back pain may be relieved with water exercises that remove weight from the joints and increase mobility. Water exercises can also provide daily physical activity for those unable to participate in weight-bearing exercise because of back problems. Athletes are prescribed water exercise when there is an injury to the back or limbs that may restrict movements. The patient can continue cardiovascular exercise without risk of furthering the injury.

Back-of-knee hamstring therapy exercises strengthen and stretch your injured hamstring muscles. Hamstrings allow your knees to bend while also supporting your knee joint. Warming up before any of these exercises is essential, because that will make your muscles more flexible. Do not overdo any of these exercises; that can be harmful.

A laminectomy is a surgical procedure that removes a portion of bone from vertebrae on the spine. This bone, called lamina, presses on the spinal cord and nerves, causing pain, numbness or tingling in your limbs. Physical therapy will help you regain movement and function in the weeks following the surgery. After about six weeks you should have no problem sitting for long periods of time, driving and doing most household chores. With no complications, the healing process will take about two months.