Almost everyone experiences lower back pain at some point in their lives. Lower back pain can occur most commonly in individuals who sit at a desk all day, lift heavy things, perform extended reaching or stretching movements, or participate in sports, running, or any other physical activity.
Luckily, there are many methods to eliminate the range of issues associated with the lower back and help it from recurring.
Wide Range of Common Conditions and Reasons Resulting in Lower Back Pain Include:
- Rotator cuff injury
- Sports injuries
- Hip pain
- Muscle strain
- Joint pain
- Pelvic pain
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Repetitive strain injury
- Neurological conditions
- Biomechanical foot disorders
- Spinal stenosis
- Nagging injuries
- Sciatic nerve compression
By addressing these concerns and adopting a healthy way of life you can go a long way toward protecting yourself against back pain. Nevertheless, when the discomfort does occur, there are several treatment plans available that can really help alleviate the discomfort and prevent its reappearance.
In this article, we’ll explore different physiotherapy treatment options for lower back pain and their effectiveness in relieving pain and preventing re-injury.
1. Manual Therapy Treatment Plan
Among the most tried and tested treatments offered, manual treatment is considered a successful method to care for lower back pain. Physiotherapists in Woodbridge work with a variety of strategies, such as joint mobilization, soft tissue re-positioning, Graston technique, muscle energy techniques, active release therapy, stretching and rehabilitative exercises, and electrotherapy. As a result, this reduces inflammation, increases blood circulation, and promotes the healing process. In fact, a 2017 study discovered that manual therapy was one of the most effective treatment choices for lower back pain.
While hands-on treatment may not fix the underlying cause of your back pain, it can reduce pain and minimize recurrence. If your discomfort is triggered by a particular injury, such as a sprain or tear, manual treatment can help reduce swelling and restore range of motion and strength to the affected area. If your pain is triggered by overly tight muscles, hands-on treatment can help to restore them to their normal length and overall flexibility.
It’s important to note that hands-on treatment can take a number of appointments to begin relieving discomfort. It’s best to seek advice from your physiotherapist before starting a treatment.
2. Ultrasound Techniques
A therapy that encourages tissue healing and pain relief that’s why it is frequently used by physiotherapists to treat lower back pain. While research is mixed relating to the efficacy of ultrasound treatment, some research studies have discovered that it can considerably decrease discomfort and promote healing amongst clients. In fact, a 2019 research study discovered that ultrasound therapy is just as successful as medication for alleviating discomfort.
Like manual treatment, ultrasound treatment works by increasing blood flow and lowering inflammation. It likewise supports tissue recovery and can be extremely powerful in treating soft tissue injuries. When it comes to back pain, ultrasound therapy is best used as a treatment to alleviate discomfort, cutting down on recurrence when regularly implemented as a component of a pain management strategy.
3. TENS Systems
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is another therapy method your physiotherapist might use to ease lower pain in the back and promote healing.
How does it work? TENS systems supply mild electrical shocks to the nerves near the location of your discomfort, minimizing the feeling of discomfort. Some TENS systems have discs that are placed at the location of discomfort, which extends the benefits of TENS treatment. These discs can be worked with by themselves or with a TENS unit.
While TENS units and discs are successful in relieving low-grade discomfort, they don’t offer long-lasting effects or deal with the underlying cause of your pain. They are best used as part of a short-term discomfort management strategy, for instance after an injury. While TENS units and discs show promising results in lowering discomfort and promoting recovery, they aren’t recommended as a long-lasting therapy choice.
4. Exercise Therapy
Routine physical exercise is one of the most beneficial means to avoid lower back pain and the start of other health issues. If integrated with a personalized treatment plan (such as medications and hands-on therapy), physical exercise becomes a lot more effective at easing discomfort and promoting the healing process. Your physiotherapist can recommend specific motion and stretching workouts that will really help strengthen and loosen your muscles, improving your lower back health.
While aerobic workout is most commonly suggested to alleviate back pain, resistance training can likewise reduce discomfort and promote recovery.
When it comes to back pain, frequency and duration matter. Frequently taking part in moderate exercise for approximately 30 minutes can help reduce discomfort and promote healing, especially if you’re experiencing acute lower back pain. If you’re suffering from long-term lower back pain, you may want to think about high-intensity interval training, or HIIT: a kind of exercise that has been proven to be effective in strengthening muscles and minimizing discomfort. Once again, your physiotherapist may recommend a workout program that’s specifically customized to your unique condition.
Wrap Up
Lower back pain can feel excruciatingly painful, especially if it’s constant. While there are many ways to eliminate lower back pain and help prevent it from repeating, it’s important to customize your treatment approach to your specific needs. While one treatment may be effective in dealing with pain in one person, it might not be as successful in another. That’s why at Full Function Rehab & Wellness we provide adaptable treatment options consisting of multiple therapies as suggested by our physiotherapist.
Give us a call today and we can start relieving your lower back pain. Our team is now scheduling new appointments for the community of Vaughan and Woodbridge areas.