02/02/2026
Hill
Low Back Pain?
Physical therapy can provide relief
If you are experiencing lumbar pain, you are not alone. An astonishing 80% of American adults have reported low back pain at some point in their lives.
For younger people, lumbar pain can be caused by strains, sports injuries, or other accidents and is usually temporary. Adults who are 50 and older tend to have longer lasting lumbar pain because of aging, which can become chronic pain.
Chronic lumbar pain impacts your quality of life. If your low back hurts, you may have trouble standing after a while. You may have decreased mobility, such as walking or other exercise. Persistent low back pain can interfere with sleep and may affect your mood.
Lumbar pain - what and where is it?
Your lumbar spine begins at the bottom of your rib cage and descends downward to your pelvis. When you have pain in that area of your spine, it’s usually a mechanical problem with how your spine works. Degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, and stenosis (narrowed spaces in your spine) are an unfortunate side effect of getting older.
Years of poor posture can also aggravate the problem. The problem here is that over time, poor posture has weakened core muscles. Once that happens, it’s not so easy to build those muscles up because you’re in pain.
If you have sciatica or are experiencing hip pain, chances are that it’s not your hip that’s the problem, it’s your lumbar spine. Your doctor is the first step in receiving an accurate diagnosis. Usually, your doctor will suggest physical therapy, which is where Plumas Physical Therapy comes in.
How we treat your low back pain
Here at Plumas Physical Therapy, our therapists are trained in the McKenzie Method. Taught by certified instructors from the McKenzie Institute, the McKenzie Method is a system that assesses your pain and uses specific therapies to manage and improve your pain and mobility.
At your initial appointment, your therapist will assess your mobility, range of motion, and pain level. You can expect treatment to begin in the same session with a series of simple maneuvers that will set you on the road to recovery.
Many of our patients are pleasantly surprised by the relief they get in their first appointment. Your therapist will also give you home exercises, and if you are faithful, you’ll begin to see results quickly.
At Plumas Physical Therapy, we’ve found that patients who do their exercises at home and keep their appointments often spend less time in physical therapy than they expected. Your commitment to your exercises will serve you well.
What else can I do?
Core strengthening exercises can really help you achieve and maintain better posture and mobility. Walking is one way to help increase your mobility. Start with short walks, such as to the end of your driveway, and build from there. A sure way to make things worse and discourage you is to take long or strenuous walks or hikes. Slow and easy is key here, you don’t want to overdo and suffer a setback.
You may also want to consider spending time in our therapy pool. Although pool therapy isn’t standard treatment for lumbar pain, you may want to consider the pool as part of your overall exercise routine to build core strength that will help you in the long run.
If you decide you want to add pool time to your exercise program, ask your therapist about our independent pool exercise program. After an initial session in the pool, you can work independently for a nominal charge.
At Plumas Physical Therapy, our therapists use all the tools at their disposal to help you in your recovery. After all, we like to say, “We get results.”
