Dr. Fulgham’s Bare Back Facts

  1. As people age, back pain and loss of height may be due to thinning of the discs.
  2. A physical therapist does the greatest good for people with back pain by breaking bad habits of posture and poor movement patterns.
  3. When anti-inflammatory medicines, muscles relaxers, walking and/or exercises are instituted immediately, episodes of back pain due to a sprained muscle usually lasts no longer than six weeks.
  4. A sprained back and ruptured disc may produce similar symptoms, but the sprain usually heals within six weeks.
  5. Ruptured, slipped and herniated discs are the same things.
  6. A patient with a ruptured disc in the neck or back may have a normal spinal X-ray but will usually have an abnormal MRI scan.
  7. A ruptured disc or bone spur requires surgery only if the severe pain and weakness persists despite conservative measures such as medication, exercise and steroid injections.
  8. Very few people with ruptured discs require surgery.
  9. Sitting increases pressure in the lower back discs five times more than standing does.
  10. The first back operation is the most important.
  11. After lumbar disc surgery, most people return to their former level of activity within six weeks.
  12. People who smoke usually have back pain for longer periods.
  13. Women are not the only ones to get osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is preventable in both men and women when diagnosis is made early enough.

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Physical Therapy

We’ll get you back in action!

Photo of physical therapist Billy Booth working with a patient during a therapy session.

A team approach that does not change with each visit.

The same licensed physical therapist and physical therapist assistant will maintain an active role in your ongoing care so that you will get the utmost attention. You will work with the same team each visit, ensuring that your routine, notes and treatment stays consistent. With expert attention, you can feel assured of getting back to an active, healthy life as quickly as possible.

An aggressive sports medicine approach to therapy.

As many professional athletes can affirm, a sports medicine approach will ensure that you remain active and return to a high level of function in a timely manner so that you can get back to enjoying life. Research shows that exercise does help heal back injuries in the majority of patients. Passive treatment may not always be the best option.

Biomechanical evaluation prior to physical therapy.


With a 30-minute test that evaluates mobility, stability, flexibility, strength and neurological functions, the cause will be identified before the work begins saving you frustration and time from a missed diagnosis. Do not underestimate the importance of a biomechanical evaluation by a licensed physical therapist. Not all evaluations are equal. Get a treatment plan that works specifically for you.

Fewer visits—the best reason of all!

More aggressive and expert treatment will often result in a faster recovery for you. Back treatment involving physical therapy does not always require 20 visits. Due to all of the reasons above, most of our patients see results within six visits.