Jordan is 20-year old college lacrosse player who came in to see us at Dynamic Sports Physical Therapy in New York City due to back issues. He explained that he had been experiencing severe episodes of back pain that came and went over the past few years. Jordan also noticed that his pain typically occured during times of increased life stress, including graduating college and a recent breakup with his girlfriend. Two years ago, he injured his lower back while performing a heavy deadlift, and now every time he deadlifts, his back is painful for 1-2 days afterward.
After hearing Jordan’s complaints, his physical therapist performed a thorough evaluation to develop a clearer understanding of what was ailing him. The evaluation revealed that Jordan had pain when extending his lower back, decreased mobility in his right hip, and weakness in his left hip and core muscles. He also experienced a tingling sensation down his right leg when he touched his toes, and although he felt pain after deadlifting, his deadlift form was good.
Before beginning treatment, Jordan explained that his primary goals were to experience no pain in his lower back when performing daily activities, and to decrease the number of intense episdoes of low back pain during stressful times of life. He also wanted to be able to deadlift, exercise, and touch his toes without pain or any tingling ion his right leg.
Jordan’s treatment plan at Dynamic Sports Physical Therapy in New York City
Jordan’s treatment plan consisted of several components that were all focused on reducing his pain levels and improving his functional abilities. He performed strengthening exerises that targeted his left hip and core muscles, and his therapist applied a series of hands-on techniques to mobilize his right hip. Jordan’s therapist also educated him on chronic pain, which was responsible for his condition. He explained that his brain was interpreting danger signals from the lower back based on his prior injury, even though there was no actual tissue damage to this region when he was in pain. Lastly, Jordan was taught methods to help him manage his stress levels and to become more aware of the sensitivity of his nervous system during stressful life events.
After three weeks of physical therapy, Jordan was able to exercise without pain once again, which included heavy deadlifting and power movements. He was also able to touch his toes without any pain or tingling sensations, and has not had any painful episodes in the past month.
Jordan had this to say about his experience with us: “I finally feel able to exercise without back pain. I am grateful that I found a PT clinic that was able to identify the physical as well as the psychological cause on my pain. Now I am not only pain-free, but I know that I also have the tools to keep the pain from coming back.”
Here at Dynamic Sports Physical Therapy in New York City, we couldn’t be happier to see Jordan break out of his painful low back pain cycle so quickly. Chronic pain can be difficult to manage, but Jordan’s story shows how a combination of education and carefully targeted exercises can help patients rid themselves of pain without any medications. So if you’re experiencing any pain of your own, we invite you to come in for a visit and take your first step to eliminate it. Contact us at 212-317-8303 to schedule an appointment today, or click hereto read our last blog for more information on chronic pain.
