Lower Back Pain Is The Leading Cause Of Disability Today What Today’s Rehab Tools Need To Do

Lower Back Pain Is The Leading Cause Of Disability Today What Today’s Rehab Tools Need To Do

Health and Fitness October 14, 2019


Physical therapy is the unifying factor between today’s working Americans. No matter the job, hours, or particular health problems, it’s something everyone has dealt with at some point.

Your rehab tools are the key ingredient standing between a patient and a healthier life. These can be as simple as a measuring stick to determine the alignment of their spine. They can be as complex as computerized range of motion testing equipment. Updating your rehab tools should be done on a rolling basis to keep up with growing demand, particular for those with lower back pain. Easily the most common form of chronic pain in the country (apart from hip pain), this issue needs to be resolved as quickly as possible.

Rehab tools are as varied as your clientele. Let’s take a look at what today’s clinic needs to stay ahead of the curve.

The Severity Of Chronic Pain Stateside And Around The World

Chronic pain is more than an American issue. It’s a worldwide epidemic that only gets worse by the day: according to recent estimates, over one and a half billion people suffer from chronic pain. This is defined as any pain that persists for 12 weeks or longer. Chronic pain can interfere with basic daily tasks, such as chopping vegetables or opening doors. It can be severe enough to keep people from working, barring them from the healthcare they need to recover.

Leading Contributors To Lower Back Pain Severity

There is no one way to suffer chronic pain. One person may struggle with daily migraines, while another may have occasional flare-ups in their knee. Lower back pain, however, is easily the most common — it’s estimated Americans spend at least $50 billion annually on back pain problems. Chronic inflammation is also a rampant issue, particularly for older Americans. It’s thought as many as 350 million people struggle with swollen joints and reduced mobility.

Automatic Strength Test And Functional Assessment Equipment

Figuring out just how severe the problem is — and how to cure it — means a series of tests. The automatic strength test is a common way of determining where the patient stands compared to others. The human body is home to more than 650 muscles, all working in conjunction with the bone and nerve system. Physical therapy equipment needs to separate its strength tests by location, severity, and cause. While work-related injuries are a common need for physical therapy, personal injury has its own niche.

Muscle Testing Machines And Pain Thresholds

Range of motion data provides the physical therapist with even more information. These include (but aren’t limited to) the direction that can be moved, the duration, and the amount of pain. The goal for most physical therapy meetings isn’t to eliminate pain altogether, but to reduce it as much as possible. Industry estimates have determined chiropractors will treat over 27 million Americans every year. Lower back pain, in particular, is the leading cause of disability around the world.

Physical Assessment Software And Data Testing

The best way to treat patients is with a tool that changes as they do. Physical therapy software is a flexible resource that updates regularly, whether with new personal information or recent rehab tools. Today the total yearly revenue for chiropractic treatment is nearly $15 billion — this is the same amount that’s spent on pet supplies. Replacing a visit to the doctor with a visit to the chiropractor could save Medicare $85 million. With physical therapy jobs already in high demand, upgrading your rehab tools could change countless lives.

Give your patients the best chance at recovery. Check your rehab tools to make sure they’re effective and updated.