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MEDICAL MINUTE^©
from the Texas Back Institute

By Land or by Sea: Back Pain Relief on Land and in the Water

Back pain is a nuisance. Men are more likely to suffer from back pain, but it is a prevalent disability among all adults, a leading cause for undergoing surgery and usually occurs despite the measures you may take to prevent it. Because of the frequency of back pain, physical therapists and other back pain specialists have devoted much time and energy to creating an effective way of recovering from and preventing further back injuries. These professionals have discovered that a rehabilitation program that incorporates both water and land activities is key to recovery and the easing of pain.

Past rehabilitation programs have shown that patients benefit most when training in water and on land each week of recovery, rather than doing only water therapy for several weeks before moving to land therapy. This way, patients practice low-impact pool exercises to improve stability, flexibility and upper and lower body strength, while working on land to learn how to maintain appropriate posture and decrease pain.

An effective therapy program should be completed in phases - not relying too much on the low-impact water, while also trying not to overexert on land. Patients should begin their program by doing water exercises more frequently than land exercises then gradually working up to doing only land exercises, or incorporating less frequent water sessions.

"Patients can feel greater benefits and confidence if their sessions begin with a slow warm-up and a review of good posture and proper ways to bend and carry objects. Through consistent resistance and cardiovascular training, patients increase their endurance for longer therapy sessions and decrease their risk of further injury," said Nayan R. Patel, M.D. of the Texas Back Institute.

Texas Back Institute: Texas Back Institute (TBI) is the largest freestanding spine specialty clinic in the United States. The Institute, based in Plano, Texas, was established 27 years ago and provides comprehensive medical care for individuals with back and neck pain. TBI is a back care leader specializing in spinal arthroplasty and minimally invasive spine surgery. As an academic health care organization, TBI has trained hundreds of physicians, scientists and allied health professionals. Its research institution employs state-of-the art technology and research to treat patients and is involved in the most clinical trials of artificial discs. TBI's professional staff includes board-certified spine surgeons, general surgeons, internists, chiropractors, physiatrists, pain specialists, exercise physiologists and a team of physical and occupational therapists. Texas Back Institute's offices are located in Plano, Denton, Fort Worth, Greenville, Garland, Hurst, Midland, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona. For more information visit www.texasback.com

MEDIA CONTACT
For more information, contact Meredith Falke, (214) 891-7795 meredith_falke@richards.com

Consumer phone number: 1-800-247-BACK