Back pain is a medical condition that occurs amongst people of varying age groups. It disrupts regular routine, slows you down and makes it impossible to do certain activities. The cause of pain could be an acute injury or chronic strain.
It is usual for people to try out every advice and home remedy to seek relief from back pain. However, physiotherapy is the best treatment method for back pain though most people consider it seriously after experimenting with other healing options.
Most back pain problems are related to lower back, discs, joints, muscles, and ligaments or, most often, a combination of all four. The leading cause for it is acute trauma/injury or poor postural habits that result in the accumulation of stress on the spine.
At Pragati Physiotherapy Clinic, we successfully treat the back pain. We can help you even if the cause of your chronic pain is unknown at present and make sure you get back to your regular activates.
What are the Physiotherapy Treatment Methods for Back pain?
Back pain treatment through physiotherapy is customized depending upon the types and range of your back pain. There are two types of physiotherapy for back pain.
1. Passive Physiotherapy:
Passive physiotherapy involves treatment that provides short term relief to the patient. The patient does not have to undergo physical effort during this treatment. The treatment options in passive physiotherapy are -
- Acupuncture
- Application of heat or cold
- Electrotherapy
- Kinesiology taping
- Short-wave diathermy
- Laser therapy
- Magnetic field therapy
- Manual therapy techniques such as manipulation and mobilization of the spine
- Massages
- Osteopathic treatments
- Therapeutic ultrasound
- Traction
2. Active Physiotherapy:
This type of therapy includes exercises to strengthen and stretch your muscles, yoga, and relaxation techniques.
Another non-physical method under the active physiotherapy program is psychological treatments such as biofeedback or cognitive behavioural therapy. Exercises and stretches in this method have brought long term benefits and pain relief.
In the treatment of back pain through physiotherapy, the initial phase involves more passive therapies followed by more active therapies as the patient's condition improves.
How do we decide what exercises are the best for you?
Individualized Exercise Program:
Our physiotherapists are trained to diagnose the cause of back pain and treat it. After a comprehensive assessment, they will develop a treatment plan to help successfully manage your backache. Every individual is assigned a customized treatment plan that suits their condition the best.
Proper Exercise Technique:
Active physiotherapy includes a series of exercises, stretches, etc. to strengthen your muscles make them flexible. These exercises will ultimately reduce your back pain. The exercise protocol will depend upon the type, location, extent of pain along with your endurance level.
Is Physiotherapy Effective on back pain?
Yes, Physiotherapy reduces back pain. You will find ample research and study literature on the same. There have medical studies conducted on how physiotherapy reduces back pain and improves the posture of the patients. Also, physiotherapy, when combined with other treatments, gives better results.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the causes of back pain?
Primary causes of back pain are:
- Age: People around the age of 30 or 40 are affected most by backache
- Lack of exercise: Weak, unused muscles in your back and abdomen might lead to back pain
- Excess weight
- Diseases: Osteoporosis, arthritis, and cancer
- Improper lifting
- Psychological conditions: depression and anxiety appear to have a greater risk of back pain.
- Smoking
- Muscle or ligament strain
- Bulging or ruptured disks
2. What are the Symptoms of back pain?
Some of the most common symptoms of back pain for which you should visit a physiotherapist at Pragati clinic include:
- Stiffness around the lower back area
- Restriction in range of motion
- Pain that persists for over 10 to 14 days
- Constant dull, aching pain
- If your pain that travels to the buttocks, legs, and feet
- If the problem that is worse after prolonged sitting
- Cannot maintain a posture if the pain only subsides after changing positions
- The back pain that worsens after waking up but gets better after moving around
3. When is Physiotherapy for back pain recommended?
Doctors might recommend physiotherapy for the back pain in cases such as:
- Unspecified chronic pain: Sometimes, back pain lingers, keeps recurring, and sometimes it's challenging to identify the source or mechanism. Even if there is no diagnosis, physiotherapy can help strengthen your back and support you better. All of this will consequently help reduce pain.
- Back injury: Some injuries like herniated disc, pelvis injury, sciatica, side strain, etc., damage the spine and weaken the support and strength. Our physiotherapy the program can reduce pain and help the spine function properly without causing discomfort to you. without pain after the fact.
- After a spine/neck surgery - Physiotherapy helps treat stiffness, strengthen spine function, and reduce painful spasms after certain spine/neck surgeries.
4. When to Avoid Physiotherapy for Back pain?
Here are some cases where physiotherapy may not only be ineffective for your back but might also prove harmful:
- Spinal instability: Physiotherapy is not advisable if you are suffering from a fractured vertebral bone or spinal degeneration such as compression of the spinal cord or a nerve root. Physiotherapy will be advised when the spine gets stabilized to prevent further injury.
- Underlying medical issues: If your spine pain results from an infection, tumour, and other underlying conditions, it must be treated first. Instead, physiotherapy might make it grow or worsen it. For instance, if you are suffering from cancer, which causes backache then physiotherapy is not advisable.
- Patient's tolerance: Our physiotherapist will deny or stop your treatment if your body cannot tolerate the treatment.
