Falling off of a roof when doing simple gutter cleaning is very dangerous, mainly if a person falls on their back. Many in this position are likely to break their back, which can be a hazardous problem if not properly managed. Thankfully, broken backs can be nursed back to health using a careful approach that takes into account a person's physical therapy needs.

Broken Backs Are a Very Scary Problem

A person who breaks their back after a fall from a roof may think that they will be paralyzed for life. That isn't exactly what a fractured back means — instead, it is a crack in one or more of the bones that support the spinal cord. Thankfully, most people who break their back — even after a fall from a high spot like a roof — don't end up damaging their spinal cords and can recover fully without any long-lasting issues.

That said, a broken back that is not correctly treated could lead to spinal damage. That's because the spinal cord is not adequately protected and supported after a person breaks their back. As a result, the recovery is something that must be handled with care and support. Thankfully, many specialized physical therapists can provide the care necessary for these individuals to recover fully.

Physical Therapy Is Essential

Broken back recovery focuses heavily on keeping the bones stable and increasing the strength of their supporting muscles with careful physical therapy. Those who experience a broken back may be very limited in their movements, but a good physical therapist can use small and precise changes — such as focusing on the core muscles low on the back — to help enhance a person's recovery process.

And therapy is also likely to pay attention to ensuring that the bones correctly heal after they are set. Often, people with broken backs strain too much and cause the bones to either break again or heal together improperly. Thankfully, physical therapy can help by teaching individuals how to move and walk in their back brace until they fully recover from this painful condition.

In this way, a person can not only ensure that they recover from their fracture but avoid injuring their spinal cord. And this step is critical because no amount of physical therapy is going to help a person if they let a broken back sever or injure their spinal cord in any way.