Don’t Ignore Your Lower Back Pain!
Are you someone who pushes through those mysterious aches and pains that crop up occasionally? Do you just assume your lower back pain will get better on its own? While this can work out, it’s not a guarantee. If you’re struggling with back pain, make an appointment with Boulet Physical Therapy and Wellness and seek the treatment you deserve.
Lower back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal ailments globally, with an estimated 80% of people experiencing it at some point. But just because it’s a common experience doesn’t mean it can’t cause complications: around 23% of the world’s population suffers from chronic back pain, pain that lingers for longer than three months.
The good news is that physical therapy can resolve most cases of back pain through techniques like manual therapy and therapeutic exercise — no surgery or dangerous pain medications are required. Even better, our therapists can often help you improve your back strength and mobility so your back functions better than before your injury.
But to get to that point, you have to take the first step and make an appointment with the physical therapists at Boulet Physical Therapy and Wellness.
Need a little extra push? Keep reading to learn why you shouldn’t ignore lower back pain.
Happy Holidays From Our Family to Yours
As we wrap up another year of serving this community, Taylor and the Boulet PT family want to wish you health, happiness, and joy this holiday season.
Our Patients Get Great Results
“I’ve seen several physical therapists over the last two years because two meniscus surgeries and laminotomy back surgery and all of the therapists basically do the same treatment on the knee, try to strengthen the quad immediately, which is definitely the goal at the end. But in my case, with Chondromalacia patella under the kneecap I’m unable to do most quad exercises because it gets inflamed immediately so it’s a viscous cycle of constant set backs. Dr. Taylor Fontenot is the only one that didn’t jump straight to the VMO exercises. Instead he basically started as if I just walked out of surgery. He also took the same approach with my lower back. Every therapist basically does the McGill big three and standard knees to chest type stuff. All good stuff, however his approach was to focus more on my inability to hip hinge. My fear of bending over in flexion was his game plan and I have no doubt if I continue that path my back will be healed. Unfortunately I had to stop therapy due to personal reasons but the knowledge I have now will get me healed. I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Taylor Fontenot and his staff. All are friendly and very professional” – M.L.
Have You Met Your Deductible?
As 2025 winds down, now is the perfect time to check your insurance deductible status. If you’ve already met your deductible—or are close—you could save significantly on physical therapy sessions before your benefits reset in January.
At Boulet Physical Therapy, we’re here to help you take advantage of every benefit you’ve earned. Whether you’re dealing with lingering pain, recovering from an injury, or just want to move and feel better heading into the new year, we’ve got your back.
Don’t wait—appointments fill quickly this time of year!
Book your PT evaluation or follow-up sessions today and finish 2025 stronger, healthier, and pain-free.
Three Reasons to Seek Treatment for Lower Back Pain
It could get worse.
People develop lower back pain for all kinds of reasons. If you suffered a sudden injury, your pain might indeed resolve on its own. But sudden injuries aren’t the only cause of back pain. Many people will develop back pain due to prolonged sitting, which can contribute to a weakening of the core muscles that stabilize the spine — and puts undue strain on your lower back. Your pain will never fully resolve until you work to strengthen those muscles and address those postural issues.
It could indicate a serious underlying condition.
Not all back pain results from an injury or poor posture. Certain medical conditions, such as spinal fractures, osteoarthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, can all cause back pain. If left untreated, your symptoms will get worse, and they might bring friends, such as restricted mobility or additional complications. Our team of physical therapists can help you determine the exact cause of back pain and suggest appropriate treatment methods. If you have developed a chronic condition, we can help you manage your symptoms and work with you to delay the disease’s progression.
You deserve a pain-free life.
Back pain may be common, but it can also be debilitating. Intense, persistent pain can keep you from staying active, which only worsens your symptoms and delays healing. It’s a vicious cycle that keeps you from fully enjoying your life. Rather than waiting for your pain to resolve, take a proactive approach with physical therapy. We’ll give you the tools to build strength, improve your posture, and get moving — so you can experience lasting back pain relief.
How Does Physical Therapy Help with Back Pain, Anyway?
When it comes to back pain, movement is definitely the best medicine. Research repeatedly shows that regular exercise can reduce back pain and keep it from occurring.
The problem is that exercise might feel like an impossibility when you’re in pain. That’s why physical therapy is such an excellent treatment option: we make movement the center of our treatment.
Once you’ve decided not to ignore your back pain, give Boulet Physical Therapy and Wellness a call. Here’s what we’ll do to help you find relief:
- Prevent future pain. We’ll also help you avoid future incidences of back pain by instructing you on proper lifting techniques or offering ergonomic suggestions for your workspace.
- Find the cause. Our in-depth physical assessments will help us identify precisely why you’re experiencing back pain, allowing us to develop a customized treatment plan.
- Manage pain. We offer several drug-free techniques for managing pain so you can get moving again. Manual therapy, gentle mobilization exercises, and pain-relieving modalities can get you started.
- Get moving. We’ll provide a tailored exercise program that suits your needs, interests, and ability levels. We can also help you strengthen your core muscles, ensuring your spine is well supported.
Today’s the Day to Stop Ignoring Your Back Pain!
Want to take action? The first step is simple: call Boulet Physical Therapy and Wellness to schedule an initial consultation. Then wave your back pain goodbye as you embark on a journey to long-term relief!
Get a Head Start on New Year’s Resolutions
Who said you had to wait until January to make healthy changes? While December is a busy time of year, it also offers that glorious week between Christmas and New Year’s Day when work is slow (if not non-existent). Why not use that time to consider how you might incorporate new health routines in the new year?
You could…
- Incorporate a few minutes of jogging on your walks.
- Try out a fitness class you usually can’t take because of work.
- Perfect a few new healthy recipes.
- Experiment with meditation.
The post-holiday slump is also a great time to schedule an appointment with the team at Boulet Physical Therapy and Wellness. We can help you resolve any lingering pain or help you plan out a new exercise program–just in time for the new year.
Treatment Spotlight:
Dry Needling
If you haven’t heard of dry needling and its various health benefits, let us explain how this amazing therapy technique could change your life! Dry needling is a safe procedure for relieving pain and muscle tension while also improving mobility. This treatment method has been shown to help with a variety of musculoskeletal disorders, including acute and chronic injuries, overuse, neck pain, headaches, back pain, sciatica, muscle spasms, muscle strains, tendinitis, knee pain, hip pain, fibromyalgia, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and others.
How can dry needling eliminate pain?
While it is a popular misconception, dry needling is not acupuncture. Dry needling is, in reality, focused on current clinical studies of the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems. While there are some parallels, dry needling is solely based on western medicine and research standards. A physical therapist will use dry needling to alleviate discomfort, minimize muscle tension, and increase mobility by inserting a sterile needle through the skin and the affected tendons, ligaments, or muscles. Dry needling simply provides an environment that enhances the body’s ability to heal and ultimately reduces pain in the process.
Our physical therapist will let you know if dry needling is the right course of treatment for you, but only after a thorough assessment to determine the severity of your condition!
Sitting is the New Smoking
3 Tips For Staying Active
Think about your typical day. How much of it is spent sitting? If you’re like most people, the answer is–a lot. We sit at our desks for work. We sit in a car to run errands. We sit on the couch to watch TV at night. All this sitting is having a big impact on our health. In addition to contributing to back pain, prolonged sitting raises our risk of heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer. Fortunately, you don’t have to train like an Olympic athlete to counteract the negative effects of sitting–all it takes is a few simple tweaks to your day!
- Take frequent breaks. If you have a desk job, set a timer to remind you to get up every 30 – 60 minutes to move around. Take a few minutes to grab some water, walk around the office, or stretch.
- Stretch while you watch TV. If you love to relax in front of the TV, incorporate some stretches as you watch your favorite shows.
- Pick up a new hobby. Movement-based leisure activities are a great way to incorporate movement into your day, and you aren’t limited to sports, either. Gardening, dance classes, and walking groups are all excellent options.
Want to learn more about the risks of sitting and how to avoid them?
Schedule an appointment with Boulet Physical Therapy and Wellness today!
Recipe of the Month: Homemade Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
- 4 cups milk (preferably whole or 2%)
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bar
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Place milk, cocoa powder and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium/medium-low heat, whisking frequently, until warm (but not boiling).
- Add chocolate chips and whisk constantly until the chocolate chips melt and distribute evenly into the milk.
- Whisk in vanilla extract and a pinch of salt (if desired), serve immediately.
