Thousands of Canadians worldwide suffer from chronic pain, specifically lower back pain. Many factors contribute to this issue, albeit lifestyle aspects, bad posture or poor ergonomics. Either way, finding treatment is one of the first things to manage the condition effectively.
What causes lower back pain?
Muscle strain
Muscle and ligament strain is one of the leading causes of lower back pain. For example, sitting in the same position for an extended period can put a lot of tension and strain on those back muscles. That said, the outcome is back pain, and if it forms part of a lifestyle routine, it could result in chronic lower back pain.
Herniated disc
A herniated disc, aka “slip disc,” results in pain for most people due to the cushioning tissue between the spinal bones protruding or bulging. This can cause nerve irritation. Still, not everyone with a herniated disc experiences pain or other symptoms, such as pain that worsens due to inactivity or pain that radiates down the back of the thigh to the buttocks.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is another condition that can cause lower back pain of a chronic nature in mature and senior adults due to its degenerative nature. As the cartilage wears down, it results in pain and, in some cases bone on bone friction.
Treatment solutions to combat lower back pain
Whether you’re experiencing chronic or temporary back pain, treatment is essential. For some people, lower back pain becomes debilitating and affects their sleep. Without enough rest, it leads to a weaker immune system and many other negative symptoms.
Most folks find the temporary relief of pain through pain medication, prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) meds. This is probably okay for a short-term solution, but if back pain is chronic or debilitating, you probably need something more like physiotherapy. Besides, the adverse effects of OTC medication over a prolonged period outweigh its benefits.
Physiotherapy for lower back pain
A physiotherapist will start by getting to the root cause of the pain. Sometimes, people may experience pain due to a recent or old injury, while others may be dealing with degenerative conditions, as mentioned earlier.
Working with a professional physiotherapist in Bowmanville, Oshawa, Peterborough, Cobourg & Port Hope will also help you learn ways to manage and maintain lower back health, limiting the pain. Your professional will also examine to rule out certain factors, and the patient will undergo various assessments and confirm any health-related history.
Physiotherapy is non-invasive
Some of the treatments involved for back pain when dealing with a physiotherapist include:
Manual manipulative therapy – Manual or manipulative therapy encourages joints to move when frozen. At the same time, manual therapy also creates better range and motion in frozen joints.
Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) – IMS or acupuncture is another physiotherapy treatment specialized for chronic and temporary back pain. The needles used in the process helps stimulate the muscle fibres affected by the pain. This age-old practice of needle therapy has proven to relieve muscle tension effectively.
Strength training – The physiotherapist designed strength training for the patient by the physiotherapist to help strengthen the core and reduce pain levels.
