How Physiotherapy Helps Relieve Back Pain?

 Back pain is something most of us will experience at some stage during our lives and is the most common reason for missed days at work.


Back pain affects primarily the lower back and the good news is, that in most cases, the cause of pain is not serious and can be resolved in a few days or weeks. However, some symptoms can be more serious requiring a full assessment and diagnosis by an experienced Physiotherapist. However, before we get on how physiotherapy for back pain helps, let’s understand the causes of back pain.


Mechanical Back Pain: The most common cause of back pain, especially lower back pain, is a combination of poor posture and lack of movement, typically seen with people who sit for long periods. This is known as mechanical back pain and is not a serious condition. However, it can be uncomfortable and frustrating to experience a constant ache or pain in your back.


Physiotherapy is ideal for treating mechanical back pain. Along with advice on correcting your posture, appropriate exercises and self-treatment techniques, your back pain should resolve in a few days or weeks. However, there are more complex causes of back pain, for example, disc prolapse, joint impingement, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoporosis, arthritis or fracture which require a more detailed assessment.


When you first start to develop postural back pain it manifests itself as a low-grade ache normally combined with stiffness in your lower back. Symptoms tend to be relieved with light exercise or by avoiding long periods of sitting, for example at weekends. But if symptoms are ignored, the pain will become constant, just to varying degrees. The level of stiffness may also increase.


Occasionally symptoms may be related to conditions other than poor posture, for example,  prolapsed disc, fracture, facet joint impingement or nerve root compression. You may experience any of the following symptoms:


  • Pins and needles or numbness in the buttocks, lower limbs or feet

  • Pain going down the back or front of your leg

  • More severe back pain, especially when bending forward

  • Excessive levels of stiffness in your lower back


These symptoms need to be properly assessed by an experienced Physiotherapist. They will diagnose the cause of your back pain and provide appropriate treatment, management and advice. A very small percentage of back pain can be caused by more serious conditions like cauda equina, where the nerves at the bottom of your spinal cord are being compressed. If you experience any of the following you should seek immediate medical advice:


  • Unsteady when standing or walking

  • Difficulties passing or controlling bladder or  bowels or numbness in either area

  • If you have a previous history of cancer or osteoporosis

  • Back pain accompanied by unexplained weight loss or fever


Treatment for Back Pain: Physiotherapy is an ideal choice for the treatment of back pain. Your physiotherapist will firstly diagnose the cause of your back pain and then combine manual therapy, which is hands-on treatment including techniques like myofascial release, mobilisation and dry needling, along with specific exercises.


As back pain is often multifactorial, physiotherapists are highly trained to diagnose problems in the joints and soft tissues of the body. They will carry out a comprehensive assessment and treatment plan to help successfully manage your particular problem. Manual therapy such as spinal manipulation/ mobilisation and massage are often used to alleviate symptoms and manage this condition in the acute stage. A home exercise programme will be devised to help restore muscular strength and re-educate accurate movement patterns. Your physiotherapist may advise other activities such as pilates or yoga to help with the long term care of your back.

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