Most people have experienced back pain at one time or another. The causes of back pain are numerous; some are self-inflicted due to a lifetime of bad habits. Other back pain causes include accidents, muscle strains and sports injuries. Although the causes may be different, most often they share the same symptoms. The most common symptoms for back pain are:

1. Persistent aching or stiffness anywhere along your spine.

2. Sharp, localized pain in the neck, upper back or lower back.

3. Chronic ache in the middle back, especially after sitting or standing for long periods.

4. Back pain that shoots from your low back to the buttock and down your leg to your foot.

5. Inability to stand straight without having severe muscle spasms in the low back.

If you have any or all of these symptoms, then you need to see your physician. In most cases, it is best to see your primary care physician first. Often, he or she will suggest physical therapy for your back pain, especially if you have any of these additional symptoms:

1. Numbness, tingling or loss of control in your arms or legs.

2. Pain that extends down the back of your leg.

3. Your pain increases when you cough or bend forward at the waist.

4. You have dull pain in one area of your spine when lying in or getting out of bed.

About 80% of Americans, or four out of five people, experience back or neck pain at some point in their lives. Many of these people with chronic low back pain are working age and for them, back pain is the most frequent cause of lost productivity.

If you haven't been as productive as you would like to be because of your back pain, then you need to ask your doctor for a referral into Premiere Physical Therapy's "Spine Rehabilitation Program." This program focuses on relieving your pain and teaching you how to keep it from returning.

Our therapists are experts in helping people get rid of their back pain and getting back to work! Don't suffer being less than your best any longer. Call the Premiere location nearest you today. We always give you one on one attention with one goal, when we're done, "LIFE FEELS BETTER."