Physical Therapy Today: Physical Therapy for the Spine

The spinal column supports the body and provides the structural framework for muscles and bones in the trunk region. It is a bony framework that protects the spinal cord, which serves as a channel of communication between the brain and the rest of the body. It serves as an anchor for a network of muscles that surround the trunk and help in movement and stability of the trunk region.

Every time we pull, push, twist, bend and stretch the spine or lift a heavy object, we challenge the muscles surrounding the spinal column. Controlled exercise, under the supervision of a physical therapist, cha...