Back pain is a game changer, and not in a good way. If you’re one of the 16 million adults who struggles with chronic back pain, or even if it’s a once-in-a-while thing, you know that it doesn’t just hurt. The discomfort diminishes your mood and limits your mobility — all in all a bad combination.
Something you might not know is that the power of a strong core — the midsection muscles — is a crucial weapon in any powerful back pain prevention arsenal.
At Empire Physical Therapy and Athletic Rehabilitation, we know this. And along with a range of passive and active care modalities we offer, in-office and at-home core work is one of our go-tos.
Our physical therapists, Paul LaRosa, MS, PT, and BIlly Reilly, MS, PT, bring the ultimate in hands-on care to their work. They equip you with tools and strategies you can use at home, and always treat you as an individual, not simply a set of symptoms.
You have more core muscles than you may think. Your core is made up of the abdominal muscles in the front and sides of your body, the rectus abdominis and internal and external obliques, respectively.
Your transverse abdominal wraps around your front but is located deep in your abdomen, while your erector spinae and multifidus are muscles that run along your spine. Technically, your diaphragm, hip flexors, gluteal muscles and pelvic floor muscles also count as core components.
Your transverse abdominal is especially important to keep strong because it acts as the primary stabilizer of your lower back.
The health ramifications of a healthy, strong core on your back are unquestionable. By keeping your core strong, you:
Since these muscles are centrally located and tasked with supporting the bulk of your weight, they’re integral to your body. That’s why it pays to keep them in tiptop shape.
We’re here to help you with core-strengthening treatments when you visit our office, like muscle manipulation, stretching, and exercises we can assist you with here, as well as ones that you can easily do at home.
Your care is always consistent here, meaning that you see the same physical therapist at each and every visit.
As with any exercise, it’s essential that you learn how to do core moves properly, so you don’t put yourself at risk for injury.
Since we customize your care plan carefully based on your medical history, we recommend exercises for you that aren’t one-size-fits-all, because each patient’s back is different, and conditions vary, from lower back pain to sciatica.
Heading off back pain means you don’t have to deal with chronic discomfort, limited mobility, pain that extends to your legs, and other problems that affect your quality of life.
A major advantage to the core exercises that we teach you to use at home is that you can do them almost anytime and anywhere. You don’t need special equipment.
Our New York City office is easily accessible if you’re in the Midtown East or the Upper East Side neighborhoods in Manhattan. Call us today to get started on strengthening your core, or book online.
Rest assured that we continue to stay vigilant with all COVID-19 preventive measures.
