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Back Painin Corpus Christi

Did you know that approximately 80% of adults in the United States have experienced back pain? And around 8% suffer from chronic back pain - that's 16 million adults dealing with debilitating back pain every day.

At Shea PT, we offer the most effective, cutting-edge back pain treatment. Many patients with back pain are often immediately prescribed opioids or told to seek surgical solutions. However, physical therapy is often the most effective treatment for back pain.

In fact, up to 79% of back pain patients find physical therapy an effective alternative to surgery.

Our physical therapists are experts in non-surgical back pain treatment. We help patients recover using hands-on physical therapy and supervised, targeted exercise. We aim to help not only recover from your current pain, but prevent future issues as well.

Acute vs Chronic Back Pain

When diagnosing back pain, it's important to note whether your pain is acute or chronic.

Acute pain is back pain that comes on suddenly, usually due to injury or strain, and typically lasts for several days or weeks.

Back pain is considered chronic if it lasts for three months or longer. Chronic pain is usually more complex to treat as the cause of your back pain may not be clear initially. This type of pain is also more likely to result in unnecessary imaging and surgery.

Do You Need Physical Therapy for Your Back Pain?

You will likely benefit from PT if you have:

  • Acute/chronic lower back pain
  • Tension headaches
  • Pain extending to arms and/or legs
  • General arthritic back complaints
  • Work-related back pain
  • Recent back surgery

Causes of Back Pain

  • Fitness Level - People who are in poor shape or with weak core muscles are more likely to suffer from back pain as they have less support for their spine.
  • Body Weight - Obesity is a leading cause of back pain and many patients may be able to reduce or eliminate back pain by reaching a healthier body weight.
  • Injury - Strain or injury is a common cause of back pain. Sudden movements, falls, or other accidents can lead to an acute episode of back pain.
  • Occupation - It's no secret that desk jobs aren't great for your back. Your job may be a primary cause of back pain if you sit too much or strain yourself often.
  • Smoking - Smoking has a lot of negative effects on your body. It can cause inflammation and restrict blood flow, both of which heavily contribute to back pain
  • Genetics - Unfortunately, your genes can be a cause for back pain. Studies on lumbar disc disease have shown that back pain may run in families.
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The Shea PT Difference

Specialty-Level Care

Target your discomfort at the source with a customized treatment plan.

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1:1 Personalized Treatments

Develop a custom treatment plan with our team of physical therapists.

Corpus Christi Location

Southside/Central

5440 Everhart
Suite 1
Corpus Christi, TX 78411
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • A physical therapy visit lasts about 40-60 minutes. The actual contents of the visit vary based on your diagnosis/need, but typically what happens is:

    1. You check in with the receptionist, make any appointments necessary, and we discuss your health insurance benefits with you.
    2. You go into the gym. You can change clothes if you need to, then begin therapy.
    3. You perform 6-8 various exercises and stretches. These can include therapeutic band exercises, light body weight exercises, or minimal weights. The stretches will promote strength, stability, improved range of motion, and pain relief.
    4. We can initiate other techniques to include manual work, taping, cupping, and dry needling as needed.
    5. The therapist makes recommendations based on your progress. These can include altering the frequency of visits, making additions/alterations to your home exercise plan, or things to do before your next visit.

  • If we are asking you to do something that is hurting too much, let us know! Physical therapy should not be severely painful. It is not common to be so sore that patients are in pain or it affects their daily life. If this ever happens during or after an appointment, let us know and we will adapt your program.

  • A typical order for physical therapy will ask for 2-3 visits per week for 4-6 weeks. Sometimes the order will specify something different. What generally happens is for the first 2-3 weeks, we recommend 3x per week. This is because it will be the most intensive portion of your treatment. After that, it is common to taper to 2x weekly, based on your level of function and progress.

  • During your initial evaluation, your therapist may ask you a number of questions to determine what the cause of your pain is. This can include questions about your sleep habits, activity level, and work environment. They will also ask for a medical history, and then typically ask direct questions about where and when you experience pain.

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