If you have suffered from damage to your spinal cord from a traumatic fall, accident, or injury, you may need to undergo spinal rehabilitation. This is a form of physical therapy that can reduce chronic back pain and let you return to daily activities. Here’s what you need to know about spinal rehabilitation, how it works, and how it can help you manage your pain.

Quick & Easy Guide to Spinal Rehabilitation

What Is It?

Spinal rehabilitation helps those with spinal cord injuries improve mobility, alleviate pain, and develop alternate strategies to perform daily activities if necessary. It is typically divided into two stages: acute and treatment. The acute phase occurs directly after injury when the patient should receive prompt medical care. The treatment phase is the step-by-step healing process when rehabilitation begins.

What Should I Expect From a Spinal Rehabilitation Appointment? 

Patients should expect an initial consultation with a chiropractor who will assess the severity of the injury. Following the first appointment, you and your chiropractor will discuss a spinal rehabilitation treatment plan.

How Does It Work?

Treatment plans can involve a variety of methods. These may include electronic stimulation to minimize muscle atrophy, robotic therapies to improve motor function, and treadmill training with body weight supports to improve posture and walking.

Your chiropractor may also ask you to perform at-home exercises to help you practice what you work on in physical therapy. These could be strength training exercises with light weights or resistance bands. It could even include yoga poses for upper and lower back pain. If you are still experiencing severe pain or if there are no changes after a few weeks of treatment, your chiropractor may ask you to schedule an appointment for reevaluation.

Spinal rehabilitation can help you avoid expensive surgery, alleviate severe pain, and get you back to your life. O’Fallon Pain Relief Associates in O’Fallon, MO, is comprised of a group of dedicated and passionate professionals who are invested in your recovery. They are a one-stop chiropractic care, physical therapy, and pain medication center that has helped many patients ease their symptoms and improve their lives. Learn more about their pain management programs online or call (636) 978-3000.