Physical Therapy for Back Pain & Sciatica
Find Lasting Relief With Holistic Back Pain & Sciatica Treatment in Des Moines & Iowa City
Your back is strong and does a lot of work for you, so it’s no wonder that it gets all sorts of aches and pains. At Breathe., our physical therapists know how hard it can be to live with a hurting back. Let us find the root of the problem and help you get on with living your life — pain-free!
Back Pain Comes in Lots of Shapes & Sizes. But You Don't Have to Be Stuck With It!
“My back hurts.” “My back is tight.” “It aches, it’s gnawing, and it’s stiff” — these are things our physical therapists hear several times a day. Back pain comes in many forms, from dull aches to stabbing twinges. Sometimes there’s a direct injury you know is the cause, and many other times it just shows up one day and won’t go away. It’s often related to pain or problems in other parts of your body. At Breathe, we want you to know that you don’t have to just live with your back pain. We can help you find the lasting relief you’re looking for. Our expert team can help you treat a number of back issues, including:
- Upper back pain
- Lower back pain
- Herniated discs
- Muscle strains
- Arthritis
- Pinched nerves, and more!
Sciatic Pain Is Common, Even During Pregnancy. Let Breathe. Help You Find Relief
Sciatica. Ouch. That sharp, shooting pain from your lower back to leg is very common — especially during the latter half of pregnancy. The good news: No matter how or when it happens, it doesn’t have to be normal, and we can help you relieve it!
What causes sciatica? The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that travels through the buttocks and down your leg. Sciatic pain can be related to many causes, including:
- Posture changes that pinch the sciatic nerve.
- Work habits for women and men
- Tight hips
- Back problems, such as a herniated disk or bone spurs, that put pressure on the spine
- Hormones that change your pelvic alignment during pregnancy
- Posture changes from having children that can persist for decades
With your spine, back muscles, and butt muscles, there’s a lot happening in that area. This means that sciatic pain can often be confused with other issues. At Breathe., our team of physical therapists will listen to your issues and conduct a full evaluation to get to the root of the problem.
How Our Physical Therapists Treat Back Pain & Sciatica
Once we identify what is causing the problem, we’ll work on forming a treatment plan that may include:
- Trigger point dry needling that targets deep muscle knots to relieve tension.
- Manual therapy that includes a variety of hands-on techniques like massage, myofascial release, passive stretching, cupping, and more.
- Therapeutic exercises you can do at home, such as nerve glides, strengthening, and over-the-counter stretches.
- Posture therapy to correct imbalances that are contributing to the pain.
We help women and men with back pain and sciatica. If you’re pregnant, know that our care for pregnant women doesn’t just stop with your back pain. Check out the full range of pregnancy and postpartum services that Breathe. provides!
Experience the Difference at Breathe. Physical Therapy & Wellness
Breathe. Physical Therapy & Wellness provides integrative, doctor-led care in a relaxed environment. When you visit our West Des Moines or North Liberty location, we’ll meet with you one-on-one to hear your story and diagnose the source of your back pain. Then, we’ll put you on a treatment plan to help manage your pain or other symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness and address the underlying issue that’s causing it. With each step, our team works diligently to make you feel heard, comfortable, and at home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Back & Sciatica Pain
What Causes Back Pain?
- Persistent movement habits
- Injuries (even old ones!)
- Medical conditions, such as arthritis or a herniated disc
- Posture or walking imbalances
- Balance issues
- Weakness after having a baby, even decades later
- Physical changes due to pregnancy, and more
It can often be hard to tell what’s directly causing your back pain. At Breathe., our therapists are trained to help you find the root of the problem so that we can get you back to your pain-free, mobile lifestyle. Often back pain can be tied back to an old pain or strain in toes, feet, ankles, knees, or hips.