Physiotherapy Matters launch week day 1: Back pain
November 23, 2014
This week, as part of our celebrations to officially launch our new clinical site at Regent Centre, Gosforth, we’re going to be exploring the top 5 common aches, pains and conditions suffered in the UK which we treat here at Physiotherapy Matters, starting with back pain.
Back pain is an extremely common condition, so common in fact that 4 out of 5 people will have suffered from some form of back pain in their lifetime.
Usually feeling like an ache, tension or stiffness, back pain is a condition that we come across regularly here at Physiotherapy Matters as physiotherapy can be an effective alternative to pain killers to treat the condition.
What causes back pain?
There can be many causes of back pain, but more often than not it’s nothing more than sitting, standing or bending awkwardly which triggers the pain. Back pain can develop suddenly or become an on-going problem so understanding the cause of it is crucial to determine the best cause of treatment.
Some of the most common causes of back pain are:
- Sitting, standing or bending awkwardly for long periods
- Lifting heavy objects
- Bad posture
- Seating position when driving
- Over-stretching or overusing the muscles
How to treat back pain…
When suffering from back pain, it is important to stay active as opposed to resting, as being inactive for long periods of time can do more damage to your back. Depending on the type of back pain you’re suffering from, the following can be effective treatments:
- Hot or cold compression packs to reduce pain
- Pain killers
- Manual therapy including spinal manipulation, spinal mobilisation and massage
- Physical activity including aerobics, muscle strengthening, postural control and stretching
- Acupuncture
Preventing back pain…
Sitting, standing and lying incorrectly are all factors which can affect the health of your back. To prevent back pain, try to avoid putting your back under too much pressure, and exercise regularly to strengthen your back and improve flexibility.
Some other ways in which you can prevent back pain are:
- Avoiding sudden movements
- Wearing flat, comfortable shoes to reduce back pressure
- Improving posture when sitting, standing and lying down
- Assuming the correct lifting position
- Increasing physical activity
Why physiotherapy matters…
The aim of physiotherapy is to help restore movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness or disability. Our Senior Physiotherapists are trained healthcare professionals who treat people of all ages, working within guidelines that are based upon the most recent and high quality evidence and research.
Physiotherapy can help you to manage your back pain and most cases will consist of a combination of manual therapy techniques and exercises to carry out at home as well as postural correction advice. A course of physiotherapy can last from 4 to 12 weeks and once discharged your back pain will have improved and you will have valuable advice to take away on how to deal with any future flare ups of pain.
If you would like to book an appointment with one of our Senior Physiotherapists to assess your back pain and devise a treatment plan please call on 0191 285 8701 or email us at info@physiotherapymatters.co.uk for more information.