Motivational and Demands Considerations for Patients With Back Pain

Back care has become a billion dollar industry with many people suffering needlessly from back pain due to poor posture, daily wear and tear, accidents, arthritis, obesity or inactivity. Many back problems can be traced back to a weak back musculature and can be treated by physical therapy, chiropractic and physical therapy. Patients often find the best relief through manual therapies and exercises performed by trained professionals in back care. Patient expectations often include the need for minimal invasive back care or low-impact exercises. Often doctors prescribe medications to patients to help alleviate back pain, but there is no evidence that such medications are any more effective than other therapies and exercise programs. Patients also desire a high degree of manual support during physical therapy and exercises in order to help correct posture and provide relief from pain.

Background: patient views and reported clinical results of doctors prior and following an intensive exercise and back care program. Patients should be allowed a reasonable amount of time to determine if they are improving their condition and are allowed a reasonable amount of time to decide if they wish to continue with the exercise program. Patients are encouraged to take breaks from exercise routines when they notice an improvement, or discontinue exercise completely if symptoms worsen. Exercises performed should be gentle enough to improve overall flexibility and should focus on improving movement patterns. In addition, patients are encouraged to seek the advice of their health care professional regarding the best exercise program for their individual needs. Also, exercise professionals are trained to monitor heart rate, pulse, temperature and body posture to determine the proper exercise protocol for each patient.

Motivations and Demands: The motivational aspects of back care are important for improving movement patterns and general health for individuals with injuries. Many individuals with back pain have difficulty finding the motivation necessary to continue with an exercise routine or physical therapy program. Some individuals may be overly focused on alleviating their back pain or avoiding further injury instead of addressing the underlying issues causing their current injury or pain.