Home HOW PHYSIOTHERAPY HELPS RELIEVE BACK PAIN

HOW PHYSIOTHERAPY HELPS RELIEVE BACK PAIN

Wednesday, 24th August 2022

Back pain is one of the most highly prevalent injuries seen within the general population. The back is used with almost all day to day activities such as getting up from sitting, rolling and bending. It therefore can be hard to avoid use of the area and can equate to being one of the most limiting injuries when it is painful. In this blog we will discuss what can cause back pain, the importance of having an individual assessment specific to your needs and how physiotherapy can help to overcome this pain and improve function as soon as possible.

What causes back pain?

Back pain can take a variety of different presentations and be due to a variety of different causes. Back pain gets typically associated with lifting something either awkward or heavy, however most commonly pain usually starts when there has been a change in activity or load to what your back is used to doing. This is why your physiotherapist may ask you more specifically about any recent changes in activity you have had to determine the contributing factors to your pain and put a plan in place to prevent this in the future. Other factors such as increased stress, poor sleep, fatigue and nutrition can contribute to the onset of back pain.

It can be difficult to determine the specific structure that may be causing your symptoms as there are a number that can produce pain such as discs, facet joints, ligaments, muscle tissue and nerves. It is therefore important to get an individual assessment from your physiotherapist where they will ask you details about your injury and guide you through a physical assessment.

How can physiotherapy help?

There are a number of ways that physiotherapy can help with back pain. Initially the priority is usually reducing pain and any other symptoms to allow you to return to your activities. Once this occurs it is important to put in place strategies to help prevent the pain from returning as your risk of recurrence is increased after having an injury. Below we talk through the different ways physiotherapy can help to reduce your back symptoms and prevent re-injury.

Advice and education

Learning and understanding your injury is important. It can help to reassure and build confidence in your ability to improve your symptoms and get you on the road to recovery. Your first episode of back pain can be particularly daunting as it can significantly affect your function. It helps to understand the injury and have strategies to help reduce the pain which may include activity modification, use of heat/ice and focusing on movement within your comfort limits. Your physiotherapist will be able to answer any questions you have regarding your back injury.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy encompasses a range of techniques including soft tissue release, joint mobilisation, manipulation and taping. These can all be utilised to help reduce pain and symptoms when you initially see your physiotherapist and allow you to start moving more comfortably. Your physiotherapist will be able to advise on whether and what type of manual therapy would be beneficial for you.

Dry needling

Dry needling is most commonly utilised with back pain to help reduce muscle tension and spasm which is very similar to the benefits found from manual therapy. Have a chat to your physiotherapist to determine whether dry needling would be beneficial for you.

Exercise

In the early stages of back pain the last thing you may feel like doing is moving. It is however incredibly important with the majority of back pain to move within your comfort limits. This aids in reducing muscle tension and spasm in turn improving movement and function. While you may not feel this effect immediately, consistently doing this should start to compound on one another and result in a change.