Back Pain: A Common Struggle for Active People

Hey there, fellow adventure seekers! If you've ever felt that nagging ache in your back after a great day of hiking, biking, or playing soccer, you're not alone. Back pain is something that most of us will deal with at some point, and it can really put a damper on our active lifestyles.

I too have felt the pain!

Let me introduce myself - I'm Dr. Trevor Schmidt, and I founded Activated Movement Physical Therapy. But before I was helping others with their back pain, I was struggling with my own. Picture this: young me, trying to deadlifts for the first time in my life with zero coaching, and boom - I'm stuck with back pain for six months. Not my proudest moment, I'll admit.

Like many of you might do, I turned to YouTube and tried to figure it out on my own. Spoiler alert: not the best idea. It wasn't until I swallowed my pride and got some professional help that things started to turn around. That experience taught me a lot, and it's why I'm so passionate about helping others now.

What's Really Going On with Back Pain?

Here's the thing about back pain - it's tricky. Sometimes where it hurts isn't actually where the problem is. It could be from sitting at a desk all day, or from that weird twist you did catching a frisbee last weekend. That's why we take a look at how your whole body moves, not just where it hurts. If you hurt every time you squat, there is very likely some sort of fault in your form, hip ROM, or muscle activation that is leading to problems. Your entire nervous system may become sensitive to motion, causing foot pain, knee pain, or shooting nerve pain. 

How We Tackle Back Pain

At our clinic, we use a mix of techniques to get you feeling better:

1. Muscle Energy Techniques: Fancy name, simple idea. We use gentle movements to help your muscles and joints work better together.

2. Be Activated Techniques: This is about waking up muscles that might be "sleeping on the job." When everything's firing right, you move better and hurt less.

3. Postural Restoration: Think of this as teaching your body better posture habits. It's not just about standing up straight - it's about how your whole body aligns using specific activation of muscles and breathing to re-set the system.

4. Strengthening: Once we've got things moving right, we need to make sure they stay that way. This is where we gradually build up your strength so you can handle whatever activities you love.

Wrapping It Up

Living with back pain isn't fun, and it can really get in the way of doing what you love. But here's the good news - you don't have to just grin and bear it. With the right approach, you can get back to your active life, often stronger than before.

If you're struggling with back pain and want to chat about how to get past it, feel free to reach out. We're here to help you get back to doing what you love, without the aches and pains holding you back.

Remember, your body is capable of amazing things. Sometimes it just needs a little help to remind it how to move right. Stay active, stay positive, and don't let back pain keep you from your adventures!