Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is one of the most common painful medical conditions today: In fact, four out of every five Americans has been affected by lower back pain at some point. While this was, even up until the 1990s, considered a problem that the patient would either have to suffer with or resort to surgical intervention for, times are changing. Non-invasive treatments for lower back problems, such as physical therapy, are proving to be the most successful long term treatment options: According to Harvard Medical School's Harvard Health Publications, "Experts now appreciate the central role of exercise in treating back problems and maintaining a healthy back."

Lower back pain is so prevalent because it can take many forms: Most people are simply not able to avoid having back pain problems at some point because so many normal daily activities can cause the issue. Back pain can happen for many reasons including:

-The lifting of heavy objects -even a single object- can cause a back strain that may result in extreme pain.

-Any type of jolt to the body, such as a car accident - or even something as simple as a misstep or tripping while walking - may result in a spinal misalignment that can affect the entire lower back.

-Working at jobs that require long hours of sitting or standing in the same position will often cause lower back problems since the spine can go slightly out of proper alignment in this way, causing chronic pain.

In many cases, lower back pain may have unknown causes, as well. Regardless of the reason for the lower back pain, there are effective treatments that can drastically reduce, and in most cases eliminate, lower back problems. In some cases, doctor prescribe anti-inflammatory or narcotic drugs for lower back issues: However, this is only a temporary measure. The long term use of medications like these can actually compound the problem since the medicines often have side effects.

Another method of dealing with back pain is surgical intervention. Surgery for back pain is very rarely necessary, especially if the proper treatment methods are tried first. When back pain patients do have surgery, they often find that the relief is not lasting:  As The Spine Journal reports, " In many cases surgery can even backfire, leaving patients in more pain."

Physical therapy for back pain is geared towards providing both immediate pain relief and long term pain management. Treatment may include heat and ice packs, massage, ultrasounds and gentle electrical stimulation with a TENS unit. Additionally, physical therapists will teach the patient how to stretch and strengthen the back and core body muscles with targeted exercises designed for maximum pain relief. Even post-surgical patients can reap the benefits of physical therapy (ones that surgery failed to give them) since these methods are safe and effective for all back pain sufferers. To speak with the expert staff at Balanced Body Physical Therapy in Salt Lake City about back pain relief, call to arrange an appointment today.

Dallen Lovell is a certified physical therapist who has been helping back pain sufferers to overcome their pain issues and live happier, healthier lives for over 20 years.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Patients who have to live with Rheumatoid Arthritis may face some difficult challenges, but thanks to the increasing body of medical knowledge about arthritis and its effects, the challenges are becoming easier to deal with. Rheumatoid Arthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis, affecting about one percent of the entire population.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an imflammatory disease that causes pain and stiffness upon awakening, joint swelling, joint damage, and can eventually result in physical deformities and disabilities. While this can be an enormously painful disease, and one that has a negative impact on mobility all too often, it does not have to progress to the point of no return. There are several different treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis today, and with the proper management the disease's progression can be dramatically slowed.

Some medications for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis may include NSAID drugs, Corticosteroids, and Methotrexate, all of which may help to reduce the inflammation and therefore the pain associated with it. However, most of these drugs are simply not meant for use as an exclusive long term treatment, and can carry some severe side effects along with them. Medication for Rheumatoid Arthritis may be necessary during flare-ups, but is not normally going to be successful if no other prevention is undertaken.

For the best results in managing Rheumatoid Arthritis, the American College of Rheumatology suggests that a balanced approach is wise: Combination therapy will often help patients more than anything else in the long term. A healthy diet, balanced rest and exercise, and a treatment plan with a physical therapist will often combine to give Rheumatoid Arthritis patients a vastly improved range of movement and feeling of well-being.

A physical therapist helps Rheumatoid Arthritis patients improve their joint and muscle function with the use special exercises and other non-invasive methods like heat application and massage. The goal of a physical therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis is to help the patient regain the as much of their lost strength and mobility as possible, and to keep the disease from progressing. Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers who are looking for lasting treatment with an expert physical therapist can contact Balanced Body Physical Therapy  to request an appointment.

Salt Lake City physical therapist Dallen Lovell has devoted his career to patient care and pain management. Lovell's 20-plus years of tremendous success with patients is something he attributes to his treatment philosophy: Patients and physical therapists are partners in healing -- It always gives superior results.



Options for Arthritis Treatment

Arthritis has gained a public perception as a disease for which there is not only no cure, but also no hope. This is far from the truth today, however: The ever increasing medical knowledge about the nature of arthritis has started to change what it really means to suffer from arthritis today. Where arthritis sufferers once had to closet themselves away and lose much of their quality of life, today there are progressive arthritis treatments that can keep patients healthy, happy--and whole.

Almost 40 million people suffer from arthritis today, according to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, making it one of the most common medical problems in the world today. With over 100 types of the disease, symptoms can vary widely among patients, but one thing tends to be constant: Your joints become swollen, inflamed, and often very painful. The things that you could once do easily, such as enjoy a simple walk, write with a pen, or play with your kids or grandchildren may now seem, quite literally, out of your grasp. Regardless of the progression of your disease, there are still positive steps you can take that will help turn back the clock on your arthritis and allow you to feel healthier and more mobile.

Arthritis is treated in several different ways today. One of the techniques most commonly used in western medicine is treatment with anti-inflammatory medications and painkiller medicines. These medications, which can include ibuprofen as well as much stronger medications, are often effective in reducing the amount of inflammation in the joints and in making the patient more comfortable. However, medication cannot provide more than a temporary resolution to the issue. As Harvard Health Publications of Harvard Medical School says, "living with arthritis requires more than finding a drug treatment."

Treatment using physical therapy is a highly effective method of managing arthritis and is one of the most favored methods by medical professionals today thanks to its gentle non-invasive approach. Your physical therapist is your partner in a treatment plan that includes exercises designed to preserve and increase your strength and mobility. A physical therapist trained in treating arthritis patients will help you to achieve improved balance, stronger joints, better range of motion, and improved overall health. Physical therapy for arthritis is part of a comprehensive treatment plan that will improve the whole you, rather than just medicate the issues away for a "quick fix."  Call Balanced Body Physical Therapy today to set up an appointment for the physical therapy treatments that can give you hope again --Arthritis does not have to rule your life.

Dallen Lovell is a licensed salt lake city physical therapist who has more than 20 years of experience helping patients to conquer their pain and mobility issues. He is highly accomplished with delivering patient care that allows arthritis sufferers to live with the disease successfully while achieving  the ultimate possible mobility levels.



Balance and Vestibular Problems

Issues with balance can take many forms, ranging from sporadic dizziness upon standing to light-headedness or even fainting. In virtually all cases of balance problems, the vestibular system is at the root of the problem, according to the Mayo Clinic. Vestibular system problems must first be properly understood before they can be addressed and treated.

The vestibular system is the brain's control center for body balance, but it does much more than simply help the body to stay upright: The vestibular system works to keep all of the body's sensations organized and traveling to the proper place. The vestibular system compiles messages from vestibular organs inside the inner ear, in the eyes, in the body joints, and in the hands and processes those messages. The vestibular system also helps regulate coordination, blood pressure, heart rate and even the immune system responses. If one part of the vestibular system is off balance, it can literally set the entire body off balance as well.

Some doctors treat vestibular and balance problems on a symptomatic basis, but this is not generally considered to be a successful long term resolution to the issue. A patient who suffers from balance problems or Vertigo may be helped briefly by prescription medications such as antihistamines, anticholinergics, or sedatives, but the problem will continue to surface once the drugs have worn off. In other cases, balance or vestibular problems may be addressed with the injection of gentamicin or corticosteroids behind the eardrum (into the inner ear.) This method, however, may potentially cause severe damage to the eardrum and may even result in permanent hearing loss, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

The permanent treatment and rehabilitation of balance and vestibular issues is necessarily a "whole body" treatment because after all, the entire body is affected when the balance is off. The most effective type of treatment for balance and vestibular issues is a physical therapy that addresses not only the issue of balance but also the root of the issue - the vestibular system that is causing the balance problems in the first place. A fully balanced physical therapy system is a whole body treatment that engages the patient as a partner in their own healing process. Potentially dangerous prescription drugs are not used in physical therapy, nor are they needed: The goal is long term healing, with patient and physical therapist working as a team. For balance and vestibular issues in the salt lake city area, contact Balanced Body Physical Therapy to arrange an appointment today.

Physical therapist Dallen Lovell has over 20 years of experience helping patients to achieve total body healing and wellness. Lovell expertly guides patients through treatment for balance and vestibular problems, enlisting the patient as a partner in their own rehabilitation. Balanced Body Physical Therapy is Lovell's arena to help as many patients as possible to achieve wellness --and happiness--in an all natural way.



Migraine's

There are many different types of headaches. Migraines are headaches that have severe and varied symptoms: nausea, a great need for sleep, extreme pain, and light and sound sensitivity are some of the primary symptoms. Prodromal symptoms, or symptoms preceding the actual migraine headache, may also occur. Cluster headaches are neurological in origin and most people who suffer these shorter intense headaches have an overactive parasympathetic nervous system. Daily Headaches can be caused by the overuse of analgesics. The culprit behind tension headaches are often tight muscles, these are the type of headaches that can often be helped by physical therapy. Secondary headaches are caused by other medical conditions and are merely a symptom of that condition.

Migraines can be triggered by many things such as weather changes or too much sun. People who suffer migraines on a regular basis often require medicine to abort or stop the headache before it starts. Migraine headache treatment is but not limited to: sleep, cold packs, prophylactic medication such as beta blockers or anti-inflammatory drugs, or pressure at the temples. Having regular sleeping and eating patterns can greatly alleviate the incidence of migraines in some sufferers. If the migraine seems to originate in the neck or jaw physical therapy may be helpful for this type of headache. Physical therapy can sometimes alleviate the worst of the pain by massage if the headache is caught early; a physical therapist can teach the patient or family member how to do this.

Cluster headaches often occur several times a day with rapid onset. Preventative drugs are the best option for these types of headaches. Cluster headaches can also be treated and the symptoms alleviated by oxygen therapy; this method proves successful for over half the sufferers of cluster headaches.

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. If a person has not exhibited a previous history of headaches, the culprit is often a tension headache. The tension headache sufferer often exhibits tight muscles in the upper body region. Tension headaches seem to start in the neck and work their way up the back of the head. Neck and scalp tenderness is frequently reported with this type of headache. A tension headache is often described as feeling like there is a rubber band being pulled tight around the head. This malady can often be alleviated and prevented by physical therapy. Poor posture, stressed muscles, improper work habits, and other conditions can all be addressed by a physical therapist. TMJ Dysfunction or TMD, is often the culprit or an additional contributor to tension type headaches. TMJ Dysfunction can also be treated with great success by a physical therapist.

Balanced Body Physical Therapy owner Dallen Lovell, PT, has treated headaches for over 20 years. He specializes in the back and the neck, ensuring you get the specialized care in Salt Lake City that you need to become pain free.