Physiotherapy is one of the most effective methods for the treatment of lower back pain. There is a large amount of research to support the techniques that we use. Most cases of lower back pain respond well to a program of manual therapy and graded exercises.
In the majority of cases physiotherapy treatment is the most effective way of treating back pain and sciatica. It will include a combination of soft tissue massage, joint mobilisations, postural advice and lifestyle alterations reducing pain and stiffness and getting you back to normal function as soon as possible.
Physiotherapy is a treatment that helps to improve the movement and function of joints and muscles. It can help to reduce back pain and get you get moving normally again. It can also help to reduce the risk of hurting your back again. Physiotherapists use many treatments and techniques to help with back pain.
Pain that lasts for more than a week
Any back pain or soreness that lasts longer than a week should be seen to by a physiotherapist, especially if it's restricting your movement or aggravated by coughing or sneezing.
As a Chiropractor will be able to asses and treat certain areas, whilst a Physiotherapist will be able to apply their techniques, to collectively help treat the cause of the lower back pain, whilst providing pain relief to the affected areas in the lower back.
If you want to start with restoring spinal functioning via spinal manipulation then then a chiropractor may be the best place for you to start. If you want to concentrate more on the soft tissue approach a physiotherapist would be the best place to start.
Massage therapy is commonly used for immediate relaxation of pain and muscle spasms, whereas physiotherapy is geared more towards rehabilitating muscle and joint function.
For acute low back pain, 6 to 12 sessions over the course of 2 to 4 weeks is standard. These initial treatments emphasize the "passive" (non-exercise) approaches of manual therapy to relieve pain and improve function.
Start with someone who specializes in nonsurgical treatment for back pain. This can include a physiatrist, chiropractor, physical therapist, or orthopaedic physician assistant. They can evaluate your condition and offer appropriate treatment to help alleviate your pain.
Most low back pain is acute. It tends to resolve on its own within a few days with self-care and there is no residual loss of function. In some cases a few months are required for the symptoms to disappear.
Usually sessions last between 30 minutes and an hour but this depends on the nature of the condition. The first appointment will usually be longer in order to account for time taken to take a patient's medical history.
While some back pain is only mild to moderate, severe back pain is when your pain is constant, intense or gets worse when you're resting or at night. 2. Your pain is persistent. If your back pain lasts longer than three months, it's considered chronic and may require a tailored treatment plan.
Lower back pain is very common. It can result from a strain (injury) to muscles or tendons in the back. Other causes include arthritis, structural problems and disk injuries. Pain often gets better with rest, physical therapy and medication.
Research shows that: Lying down longer than a day or two day isn't helpful for relieving back pain. People can recover more quickly without any bed rest. The sooner you start moving, even a little bit, or return to activities such as walking, the faster you are likely to improve.
We don't use this treatment as standard. Manipulation is often known as “clicking”, “clicking joints back into place”, “re-aligning joints”, “putting things back in”, or “cracking joints”. In fact, we don't put anything back into place, we don't re-align joints, and we don't crack anything.
Physiotherapy can help with the symptoms of swelling and inflammation through their experience and knowledge. Physiotherapists can help by: Reducing the swelling. Speeding the inflammation process.
Osteopaths are well versed in the application of spinal and joint manipulation in comparison to Physiotherapists. Osteopaths will look to treat the body as a whole whilst physiotherapists are generally area specific and target the tissues involved and are much more likely to include exercise as a part of treatment.
If you're booking a physiotherapy appointment because of back or hip pain or a lower or upper back injury, we recommend wearing a loose fitting shirt and comfortable but loose pants that can be easily lowered to show the lowest part of your back.
Instead of treating consistent and intense lower back pain with over-the-counter medications, a visit to your local chiropractor can be a safer and more effective treatment method for your lower back pain. Treating your lower back pain early can prevent permanent damage caused by chronic lower back pain.
Massage Therapy for Back Pain
Massage is an excellent, non-invasive way to relieve back tension and the pain associated with it. Massage Therapy for back pain can also be a very helpful relaxation technique because it releases endorphins, which create feelings of euphoria and happiness in the brain.
Physical therapists use spinal manipulation and other manual therapy techniques to get your spine back where it's supposed to be. These techniques, combined with exercise, help get your bones moving properly and your muscles functioning correctly. This may also help relieve pain related to the spinal misalignment.
Minor injuries you might expect 2-3 sessions of physiotherapy; soft tissue injuries you would be looking more towards 6 – 8 weeks, as this is roughly how long it takes for soft tissue to heal in most cases; and more chronic or serious conditions taking 2 or more months of treatment depending on the level of progress ...