3 tips to help elderly people manage back pain

Back pain can impact an individual’s functional ability significantly by making daily activities difficult to complete. The prevalence of back pain in elderly people is especially high. If you or your loved one is an elderly person who is dealing with back pain, we have some tips that may be useful to try.

What are some of the causes of back pain in elderly people?

• Disc degeneration.
• Disc herniation.
• Sciatica.
• Joint degeneration.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Arthritis.
• Muscle strain.

What are some tips that may help elderly people manage their back pain?

• Try manual soft tissue manipulation — Manual soft tissue manipulation is a technique frequently used by physical therapists to ease muscle tension and reduce pressure in the body. You can go to a physical therapist’s clinic to receive professional manual soft tissue manipulation, which may help reduce back pain related to muscle tension and compressed nerves.
• Keep moving regularly — Regular movement and exercises, even those as simple as walking, have the potential to reduce back pain for elderly people. Not to mention, it has a variety of other benefits aside from relieving back pain, too. It’s important to try to integrate movement into one’s daily routine as much as possible to release muscle tension, improve circulation and more.
• Try stretching — Stretching is another way that elderly people may be able to relieve some of their back pain. It’s a low-stress activity that can boost circulation and stimulate the muscles in your body. This might not work for all types of back pain, but it has the potential to be effective for some!

What are some effective treatment methods for elderly people who have back pain?

• Virtual physical therapy — One effective treatment for an elderly person who has back pain is virtual physical therapy. Virtual physical therapy offers all of the same benefits as regular physical therapy, and maybe even a few more! For those who would prefer not to spend time commuting to and from regular appointments, virtual PT is especially convenient. It’s also very convenient for older adults and elderly people who may not be as able to find transportation or transport themselves to therapy sessions. For elderly people who have back pain, getting to PT appointments may be difficult. Fortunately, the treatment that may be able to help their back pain can still be provided to them from the comfort of their own home. Not only this, but virtual physical therapists can provide their patients with suggestions for reducing the risk of aggravating their back pain while at home.
• Medication — Pain medication is another treatment method for dealing with back pain. Anti-inflammatory medication and over-the-counter pain medication may help reduce pain temporarily as well as minimize inflammation.
• Surgery — Surgery may be an option for some patients. This is most often a treatment method that works for those whose pain doesn’t respond to more conservative treatments. It may reduce back pain in elderly people, but isn’t guaranteed to work. Also, in the case of elderly individuals, surgery may present more health risks, like potential complications.
• Corticosteroids — Corticosteroids are another treatment option for elderly people who experience back pain. This method is considered to be a temporary pain reliever and inflammation reducer and may help relieve back pain. More than one corticosteroid shot is usually required for these to be effective.

Why choose Agile Virtual Physical Therapy for your back pain?

We understand that going to regular in-person physical therapy sessions can be a serious time commitment. When you consider the time it takes to drive to and from your sessions, the sessions themselves, and other related factors, in-person PT can be tedious. Fortunately, getting the care you need doesn’t have to be. 

You may not have available transportation to attend in-person physical therapy. Virtual physical therapy is a time-efficient and equally effective treatment option for elderly people who have back pain. Virtual PT can be done from the convenience of your own home. It requires nothing other than a stable internet connection and a device with a video camera. Patients will be able to meet with a qualified physical therapy professional who can lead them through each session. Elderly people can get the right treatment for their back pain without needing to sacrifice any more time than is necessary. 

Agile Virtual Physical Therapy can offer more than 400 licensed clinicians. We’re committed to providing effective PT care through our telehealth platform. At Agile Virtual PT, we provide services in 45 U.S. states and free virtual screenings. 

At Agile Virtual Physical Therapy, we have experienced professionals who are qualified to create a personalized plan with you containing at-home physical therapy exercises customized for your age and fitness level.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment to get started treating your back pain.