I Have Low Back Pain: Can Physical Therapy Help Me Avoid Surgery?

Jan 14, 2025
 I Have Low Back Pain: Can Physical Therapy Help Me Avoid Surgery?
If you suffer from low back pain, you might assume your only treatment option is surgery. However, physical therapy provides a safe, noninvasive alternative that can be just as effective. Learn more here.

Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal problem, affecting almost everyone at one time or another. It usually improves with rest and activity changes. However, if your symptoms continue for weeks or months, you might worry surgery is the only option for lasting relief.

Thankfully, conservative treatments, like physical therapy, often suffice. 

At North Valley Orthopedic Institute in Mission Hills and Tarzana, California, Dr. Ramin Ganjianpour regularly prescribes physical therapy to manage low back pain. This blog explains how physical therapy can help you avoid surgery.

What’s physical therapy?

Physical therapy, or physiotherapy, is a nonsurgical treatment approach that improves how your body moves. It combines hands-on therapies, like massage, with stretches, strengthening exercises, and postural changes to relieve pain, improve mobility, and support healing. 

Many people think physical therapy is only for those recovering from medical events or surgery, but that’s not the case. Working with a qualified physical therapist can address your lower back pain at the source, preventing the need for surgery.

How physical therapy helps patients avoid surgery

Physical therapy provides several benefits in terms of avoiding surgery, including:

1. Physical therapy promotes healing

Physical therapy techniques, like strengthening exercises, targeted stretches, and massage, support your body’s healing process. 

For example, they help build muscle mass, reduce the risk of re-injury, and increase the flow of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to your lower spine. That eases inflammation, alleviates pain, and encourages the growth of new cells and tissues.

2. Physical therapy relieves pain

The severity of low back pain varies. For some people, the pain is sharp, stabbing, and debilitating; for others, it’s mild, and comes and goes. 

Regardless of your symptoms, physical therapy can provide lasting pain management. Improved flexibility can relieve muscle tension, enhance range of motion, and provide targeted care for trigger points (tight muscle knots) with massage and other hands-on techniques. 

3. Physical therapy reduces the risk of future injuries

Chronic low back pain often worsens over time. Physical therapy uses targeted techniques to build strength, improve posture, and enhance flexibility. This focus on improving mobility and reducing wear-and-tear helps relieve present pain and sets you up for long-term success. 

For example, if you play sports or work a physically demanding job, we can personalize a therapy plan that helps you stay healthy and prevents your symptoms from worsening.

What to expect during physical therapy

At North Valley Orthopedic Institute, we tailor physical therapy to each patient’s symptoms and goals. Your treatment plan may include:

  • Stretching
  • Strength training
  • Massage
  • Heat and cold therapy
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

Most people with low back pain benefit from several approaches. We monitor your symptoms at weekly checkups and adjust your care plan as needed to ensure lasting results. 

Call us to schedule your physical therapy consultation

Don’t let low back pain keep you from activities you love. Call North Valley Orthopedic Institute today to schedule a physical therapy consultation, or request an appointment online.