Back Pain Physiotherapy Treatment
Contents
Do physiotherapists treat back pain?
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.
How long does it take for physiotherapy to help back pain?
Can Lower Back Pain Be Cured With Physiotherapy? – By Dr. Kapilchand Narra is often tried as a first solution to a persistent, Most doctors advise a patient of for a four-week session as a conservative approach to pursuing aggressive treatment options such as,
Passive Therapy: This is a form of physiotherapy that includes an application of ice packs, and heat application. These are the very first steps taken, before moving to routine physical therapy that involves following an exercise schedule, breathing technique etc. Active Therapy: Active physiotherapy includes undertaking of specific exercise schedule and certain stretching activities. The exact schedule is decided by the, depending on the location and duration of pain.
Benefits of Exercising- The stability of the lower back is greatly dependent on the back musculature and abdominal spine. The muscle of the abdomen stabilizes the lumbar spine since they can generate pressure through the spine. Simply put the discs and the spine are all circled by muscles.
- It is necessary for these muscles to retain the strength in order to exert less pressure on the joints and the discs.
- There are ample medical literature stating the fact that active physiotherapy can make the surrounding muscle of discs strong.
- What’s more, a good physical exercise schedule will negate the likelihood of future spine related pain.
Some of the most common exercises include-
Stretching: An active exercise schedule comprises adequate stretching to ensure gradual relief of conditions such as spasms and atrophy. These are caused due to certain conditions including inappropriate posture, nerve irritation, accidents related to the spine etc. Certain stretching involving the legs, back muscles, hips and abdominal muscle should be practiced. Stretching should be slow and gentle without any bouncing. Stabilization Exercise: Dynamic exercise includes the involvement of many exercises such as the usage of balancing machine and exercise balls in order to improve the balance of the lower back. They ensure the strengthening of the secondary muscles and improve the range of motion. The ultimate motive of stabilization exercise is to support the spine. Strengthening Exercise: There are a set of dedicated exercises often recommended by physiotherapists. The core motive is to ensure the strengthening of lower back and abdominal muscle. Some exercises include leg raise, sit-ups, crunches etc. Lower back exercise could be as simple as lying straight on the ground and raising the chest slowly towards the air and getting back to the same position. Good morning exercises also play a key role in strengthening the lower back muscles. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Physiotherapist.
: Can Lower Back Pain Be Cured With Physiotherapy? – By Dr. Kapilchand Narra
Should my back hurt more after physio?
Telling the difference between types of pain – Generally, if there is an increase in your presenting symptoms after a session, it’s something that you should discuss with your physio. Other pains or soreness that occur after treatment are usually very normal and natural and is actually a sign that the treatment is helping.
How many times a week should you do physical therapy?
Here are the most common questions we receive. If your question isn’t answered here, please call or contact us via the webform or give us a call, This way, we can address your concern as well as improve our own FAQ. Will my insurance pay for physical therapy? Yes.99% of the time they do.
In fact, we will verify your benefits for you. We even contract with the local Arizona AHCCCS plans. When you walk in for your first visit, your benefits will be explained to you thoroughly. This service is complimentary to you, and the purpose is that there will be no mystery surrounding your benefits.
If you have a specific question about your plan please first consult our insurance list and second, give us a call if you are still wondering! Does physical therapy hurt? If we are asking you to do something that is hurting, let us know! Physical therapy should not be painful.
- It is not common to be so sore that patients are in pain or it affects their daily life.
- If this ever happens during or after an appointment, let us know and we will back off the intensity.
- There are those who say, “no pain no gain” but we prefer the phrase “no pain is no pain!” How long does physical therapy treatment take? A typical order for physical therapy will ask for 2-3 visits per week for 4-6 weeks.
Sometimes the order will specify something different. What generally happens is for the first 2-3 weeks, we recommend 3x per week. This is because it will be the most intensive portion of your treatment. After that, it is common to back off to 2x weekly, based on your level of function and progress.
How long does a physical therapy appointment last? We recommend budgeting 40-60 minutes for a typical therapy session. The only exception to this will be your first visit, which can take about 20 minutes longer due to the physical therapy evaluation your therapist will provide. We also recommend showing up about 10-15 minutes early to your first visit.
This way, you can complete the paperwork before your visit time and streamline the process. What happens at physical therapy sessions? As mentioned above, a physical therapy visit lasts about 40-60 minutes. The actual contents of the visit vary based on your diagnosis/need, but typically what happens is 1.
- You check in with the receptionist, make any appointments necessary, and we discuss your health insurance benefits with you.2.
- You go into the gym.
- You can change clothes if you need to, then begin therapy.
- This can start with a few minutes on a hot/cold pack, or a few minutes of gentle electrical stimulation, to strengthen muscles and promote blood flow.3.
You perform 6-8 various exercises and stretches. These can include therapeutic band exercises, light body weight exercises, or minimal weights. The stretches will promote strength, stability, improved range of motion, and pain relief.4. The therapist will massage areas still tight or causing pain.
- This can take a few minutes.5.
- The therapist makes recommendations based on your progress.
- These can include altering the frequency of visits, making additions/alterations to your home exercise plan, or things to do before your next visit.
- What questions do physical therapists ask patients? During your initial evaluation, your therapist may ask you a number of questions to determine what is the cause of your pain.
This can include questions about your sleep habits, activity level, and work environment. They will also ask for a medical history, and then typically ask direct questions about where and when you experience pain. What if I get sore from my exercises? It is common for patients to experience some muscle soreness in the first few weeks of physical therapy.
- The reason for this is because you are exercising and stretching a part of your body that isn’t used to the activity.
- When we recommend an exercise or stretch, we are specifically targeting the muscles, tendons/ligaments, and bone structures that are dysfunctional and causing you pain.
- Is it important to keep my appointments? Yes.
Physical therapy works based on the science of how the body rebuilds and heals. The biggest killer of progress is inconsistency. If your doctor recommended 2-3x weekly, we recommend sticking to that. Will I lose my progress if I miss an appointment or don’t complete my home exercise program? Not necessarily.
If you miss an appointment or forget to do your HEP, it is important that you make that up. Most of the time, when a patient reports no progress, it turns out they struggled to commit to the process throughout their treatment. On the flipside, when our patients are consistent, they achieve positive results quickly.
What is a physical therapy HEP? HEP stands for home exercise program, and it’s a vital part of any treatment plan. It’s one of the most important aspects of physical therapy. If you started anything new in life: a workout, a new job, a new hobby, etc, you would benefit immensely from doing it every day as opposed to a couple times per week.
- Generally, you will be provided with a specific HEP protocol by the therapist near the end of your first visit.
- It will usually take 10-15 minutes of your time at home to engage in a few stretches/exercises that will compliment the progress you make in our office.
- Don’t worry, they generally require little to no equipment, and equipment will be provided to you if you need it (such as an exercise band).
What should I wear to physical therapy? You should wear loose clothes that make it easy to move. We also recommend sneakers. Workout clothes will work, but any comfortable clothing will work fine. While this is not a ‘gym workout’ – you will be exercising the affected area.
- The less your clothes restrict your movement and the more comfortable you are, the better.
- Shorts, yoga pants, or athletic/loose fitting pants and a tee shirt are all good options.
- What are our credentials? Our therapists are fully licensed physical or occupational therapists.
- If you are wondering about the specific staff in your clinic, please visit the location page for your area and read the bios.
We also employ several physical therapist assistants (PTA’s), at our locations. These professionals are also licensed and highly qualified to assist you in your treatment. Do you communicate with my doctor? Yes, we regularly communicate with your doctor.
What exercises should you avoid with back pain?
High impact exercises, such as jogging and high-impact aerobics, can put pressure on a disc and cause more injury. Also, avoid movements that cause twisting, such as golf, as it can up back pain pressure. Try this instead: Water aerobics or yoga.
What is the best daily exercise for back pain?
Walking. Walking is good for low back pain because it’s a low-impact exercise that offers the benefits of regular physical activity without aggravating the muscles and tendons of the lower back. It uses and stretches muscles in your back, is easy on your joints and can reduce bone and muscle loss.
Is massage better than physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy vs Massage Therapy – Methods – Perhaps the most important difference between massage therapy and physiotherapy comes down to the distinct methods each uses to achieve its intended goals. For physiotherapy, treatment can incorporate:
Massage Ice treatments Manual therapy Stretching Exercise Electrotherapy (electrical stimulation) Ultrasound therapy
Once again, the main purpose of physiotherapy is to reduce pain and restore range of movement and overall muscle and joint function. Massage therapy, by contrast, is more keenly focused on pain relief and relaxation, though you can see some added mobility benefits as well. Massage therapy relies on deep tissue massage and other massage techniques to help with:
Blood circulation Relieving tension in the soft tissue of the body Relieving tension at trigger points throughout the body Connective tissue ailments through connective tissue massage And more
Improve Your Physical Health Today Benefit from massage and physiotherapy services from White Pine Health Learn More
Is it OK to go to chiropractor for back pain?
Should You See a Chiropractor for Back Pain? Nearly everyone suffers from at some point. One treatment option is chiropractic care, which often includes spinal manipulation (also called manual manipulation), exercise advice, and self-care recommendations. Research shows that spinal manipulation can help relieve pain and improve function in people with acute low-back pain, one of the most common types of back pain.
- Offers chiropractic care and other conservative treatments for back pain as part of its whole-person approach to helping you feel better faster.
- Here, Duke chiropractor, answers questions about how chiropractic care could help you feel better.
- I mainly see spine-related conditions.
- This includes pain in the low back (called the lumbar spine), the upper back (called the thoracic spine), and the (cervical spine).
Some of my patients have had a recent injury while others have had pain for many years. Common causes of spine pain include and muscle spasms. Many patients have leg or arm pain or headaches in addition to back and neck pain. Chiropractors often work with injuries in other parts of the body, too -,, things like that – but my main focus is on the spine.
- People often want to try the kind of conservative approaches that chiropractors provide first.
- In fact, this is what many clinical care guidelines recommend.
- So before trying treatments like or for back pain, they may want to consider chiropractic care,, or,
- Much of the time, back pain resolves with this kind of treatment.
I primarily use manual manipulation. That means I use my hands to try to improve movement in your spine. If I can improve joint mobility in a certain area – the spine, neck, middle back, lower back, pelvis – it may reduce muscle tightness. It can also help with irritation of nerves that travel down the arm or leg, causing numbness or tingling, pain, or even changes in strength.
- I sometimes use other therapies as well, such as giving people exercise instructions or self-care recommendations.
- I spend about 20 to 25% of my time talking with and listening to my patients.
- We talk about flexibility; we talk about strength-building; we talk about balance.
- I look at your ergonomics: What do you do for work? How do you bend, turn, lift? Do you ride in a car all day? Do you sit in front of a computer? I try to understand what may be contributing to the pain or other symptoms you may be experiencing.
Often, I’m trying to help patients by encouraging them: “Yes, you can do this,” or “When something like this happens, try to do this instead of that.” That way, they’re not anticipating pain and causing more pain and more muscle spasms. Pain scientists have found that anticipation of pain can lead to more episodes, more muscle spasms, more headaches, and so forth.
So, teaching patients how to think about pain is important. Our goals focus largely on returning people to the activities that are important in their lives, whether those are job-related, family or socially oriented, or recreational in nature. Active people are healthier and happier. It won’t be a lot different from what you’re used to with other medical providers.
I first gather a lot of information about you by asking questions: how your pain began, what is the effect on your pain when you do this or that, what your level of pain is, and any other symptoms you may have. If your information is in, I’m going to read it beforehand.
- This includes if you have images -, – or blood work.
- Then I’m going to perform an exam that assesses both the medical and mechanical aspects of your pain.
- For example, I’ll look at alignment, muscle tone, nerve function, how your body is moving, how well you can bend, turn, twist, and what kind of movements reproduce the symptoms you’re having.
If you haven’t had X-rays or other imaging and we need to order it, we can do that. However, most patients do not need imaging at their first visit. After the exam, we have a discussion: “This is what I think is happening with your spine, these are the treatments I would recommend, and this is how I think it will help you.” Since I’m part of a team, if I think a patient will get additional benefit or more benefit from seeing a physical therapist,, spine surgeon, or other provider, I will also suggest that referral.
- I offer video appointments for virtual exams, diagnoses, and patient education.
- I might recommend self-care that you can do at home like heat therapy or stretching, or you may need to make an in-person appointment for hands-on treatments or additional evaluation.
- Your muscles may be a little sore afterward and some patients feel a little tired.
However, most of these symptoms are gone in less than 24 hours. Fortunately, complex side effects associated with manual manipulation are rare. At first, I might see a patient once or twice a week. If the condition is acute, I might see the patient every day to begin.
As they improve, I recommend fewer visits and start giving the patient more things to do on their own at home. I want my patients to be as independent as possible. There are patients who have chronic problems and need to come back and see me occasionally. But the great majority of patients have issues that are resolvable, and I may never need to see them again after their condition has improved.
: Should You See a Chiropractor for Back Pain?
Can a physiotherapist diagnose back problems?
What are the common causes of lower back pain? – Here are some of the common causes of lower back problems. Mechanical low back pain Most cases of low back pain are known as “non-specific” (there’s no obvious cause) or “mechanical” (the pain originates from the joints, bones or soft tissues in and around the spine).
These are often caused by an injury, for example lifting or activities such as gardening. Disc prolapse Disc prolapses, otherwise known as slipped discs or bulging discs, is a common source of low back pain. As well as causing back pain, a disc bulge can press on a nerve causing leg pain (sciatica), numbness, tingling or weakness in the leg.
Often misdiagnosed, physiotherapists are experienced and trained to diagnose your back pain/sciatica and from the relevant findings following the detailed assessment, will form a treatment plan for you. Lumbar spondylosis Lumbar spondylosis relates to age-related changes in the low back area.
It can include changes in the discs (reduction in height), and the joints (known as the facet joints). Physiotherapy treatment is very effective for low back pain caused by wear and tear. Your treatment will involve hands on treatment, the exact treatment depending on the findings of the assessment. Lumbar stenosis Closely related to the natural age-related changes in our spine (spondylosis), stenosis causes low back pain and / or sciatica when standing or walking, and is eased when sitting.
As well as hands on treatment, your physiotherapist will provide strategies and exercises to help you manage your condition. Facet Joint Arthropathy The joints in our low back are called ‘facet joints.’ Just as our knee joint is prone to ‘wear and tear’ so are the facet joints.
- Back stiffness and pain is often present on moving after sitting or inactivity.
- Physiotherapy treatment will include hands on treatment.
- In addition, your physiotherapist will provide strategies and exercises to help you manage your condition.
- Spondylolisthesis Spondylolisthesis causes one vertebra to slip forwards of the other.
It is caused by several factors including,
repetitive trauma to the spine, such as cricket or gymnastics,a sudden injury or trauma to the spine, such as a fracturea birth defect
Symptoms can include low back pain and stiffness which is worse with standing and relieved when lying down.
Do physiotherapists do spinal manipulation?
Background and Objective – High-velocity low-amplitude thrust spinal manipulation (SM) is a recommended and commonly used manual therapy intervention in physiotherapy. Beliefs surrounding the safety and effectiveness of SM have challenged its use, and even advocated for its abandonment.
What is the best professional to help with back pain?
What Doctor Should I See for Back Pain? – Content If your back pain is from a recent strain or mild injury, your primary care doctor can probably help. But if the pain is severe, ongoing, or accompanied by other symptoms such as numbness or tingling in your arms or legs, it may be time to see a back doctor.