Lower back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal issues which affects young as well as elderly individuals. The main cause can be poor posture, injury, or underlying medical condition. There is sufficient evidence to prove that Physiotherapy can help in managing and alleviating lower back pain and improve mobility, strengthen muscles, in addition to reducing discomfort.
How does Physiotherapy help in managing lower back pain?
Physiotherapy treatment to manage lower back pain involves a range of treatments aimed to restore function and improve movement. This includes exercises, manual therapy, soft tissue release, use of electrotherapy modalities and back care advice which includes lifestyle modifications specific to an individual’s needs. The main goal is to relieve pain, restore movement, prevent future injuries, and enhance overall quality of life. A Physiotherapist completes detailed assessment which includes the severity of the pain, muscle strength, flexibility in the spine and develops a personalised rehabilitation plan.
How do I find the right Physiotherapist?
Choosing the right physiotherapist is crucial for effective treatment. Consider the following when selecting a physiotherapist:
- Qualifications and registration: Physiotherapy is a protected title in UK, and they have to be registered with Healthcare professional council. Ensure that your Physiotherapist is HCPC and CSP registered.
- Experience: Check that Physiotherapist has relevant musculoskeletal experience and expertise in treating lower back pain.
- Recommendations: Seek referrals from your friends, family and check the reviews on the websites offering Physiotherapy treatment
- Accessibility: It is best to find a Physiotherapist who can do home-visits as this provides more flexibility as well as treatment within home. Long travel, waiting in the reception as well as getting on the exercise tables can aggravate the pain further.
What will the Physiotherapy session include?
- Assessment: The Physiotherapist will assess posture, range of motion, muscle strength, pain on the visual analogue scale, muscle tenderness, movement that may aggravate pain and any underlying condition contributing to the back pain.
- Treatment Plan: A tailored approach is designed, which may include soft tissue mobilisation, use of modalities, stretching, strengthening exercises, posture correction and hands-on techniques to relive pain
- Exercise Therapy: Physiotherapist will provide graded exercises to enhance flexibility, core stability and strengthening.
- Manual Therapy: Manual techniques such as massage and spinal manipulation help relieve muscle tightness and improve movement thereby reducing pain.
- Education and Advice: Back care advice includes posture correction, ergonomic adjustments, and activity modifications.
Which lower back conditions are managed by Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is beneficial for various lower back pain conditions, including:
- Muscle Strains: A muscle strain can be caused due to over stretching of the muscle as well as repetitive use of the muscle. The muscle strain is graded as mild, moderate or severe. A Physiotherapist can determine the grade of the muscle strain after thorough examination and plan the treatment accordingly. Physiotherapy input helps in relaxing the tense muscles, reducing swelling, relieving pain and inflammation, hence enhancing the function. The initial treatment varies from use of ice packs and rest to more specific hands-on treatment as needed.
- Herniated Discs: Physiotherapy treatment for herniated discs is very effective and aims to reduce muscles spasms, pain and stiffness. Physiotherapy treatment includes core stability programme, exercises and stretches which reduces the pressure on the spinal nerves. This helps in identifying and resolving the mobility issues as well functional status.
- Sciatica: Physiotherapists are skilled in using mobilisation techniques and gentle nerve stretching to relieve nerve compression. This helps in alleviating pain, promotes healing and enable sciatic nerve to move and stretch freely. *
- Post-Surgery Recovery: Post-surgical Physiotherapy input is crucial in minimising the risk of complications and regaining independence. Physiotherapy input should start immediately after the surgery to help in pain relief and ensuring early mobilisation to boost healing. Timely physiotherapy input also helps in reducing the recovery time and enables an individual to get back to their life quicker.
How to manage low back pain effectively?
Recovery from lower back pain depends on the severity of the condition and adherence to the rehabilitation plan set up by the Physiotherapists. Following measures can help in speeding up the recovery as well as maintain the condition:
- Postural correction: Posture awareness is crucial in managing back pains and reducing the risk of recurrence. Physiotherapists have in-depth knowledgeable bout muscles that assist in postural control. They can advice how to avoid imbalances and strengthen the postural muscles along with techniques to maintain proper sitting and standing postures
- Keeping appropriate activity levels: The rule of thumb is to have rest interspersed with activity to reduce stiffness and weakening of the low back muscles. It is important to start gently and increase the activity levels according to the capacity and level of pain. Bed-rest is not advisable as this can result in long-term problems by reducing the stamina and exercise tolerance making it difficult to get back to normal activities.
- Ergonomic adjustments: Ergonomics play a key role in prevention and management of long-term low back pains. There is a strong link between workplace ergonomics and back pain. This includes chair with proper lumbar support complementing the natural curve of the lower back along with the correct height so knees are bent to 90 degrees with feet flat on the floor. Footrest should be considered for proper leg positioning and chair should be movable along with proper height of the table to ensure correct posture. It is important to take stretch breaks at regular intervals if the work involves sitting for long hours. Similarly, the mattresses should be medium-firm for proper spinal alignment which can alleviate back pain as well as improve sleep quality.
- Strengthening lower back muscles: Specific exercises targeting the weak muscles have a significant role in managing back pain and preventing relapses. Gentle range of motion exercises can help in reducing the stiffness and increasing the flexibility of spine thereby preventing any further deterioration. Regular stretching programme to lengthen the tight muscles as well core strengthening exercises help in long term management of low back pains. It is crucial to follow the graded exercise plan set up by the Physiotherapists to get the most benefit.
Conclusion
Physiotherapy is a highly effective in management of lower back pain, offering long-term relief without invasive procedures. Finding the right Physiotherapist, following the prescribed treatment plan, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are key to managing and preventing lower back pain effectively.
