Sarah (not her real name) was one of the millions of Canadians living with persistent back pain. The forty-five-year-old social media marketing manager frequently noticed a dull ache in her lower back, especially after a long day at work. How did she eventually find relief? Through physiotherapy back pain treatments!
At first, Sarah tried to manage her back pain with over-the-counter painkillers. While they offered some short-term relief, the pain always returned a few hours later. Eventually, she visited the team at For Health’s Sake on a recommendation from a friend.
We started a comprehensive assessment to determine the source of Sarah’s back pain–that way, we could find the best solutions for her needs. After a health history, discussion of Sarah’s symptoms, and a few simple movement and postural screens, we determined Sarah’s back pain stemmed from her sedentary job, which required her to spend long hours on a laptop and cell phone.
Sarah noticed significant improvements within a few weeks of working with our team and making a few lifestyle changes (such as moving more throughout the day). Her pain levels decreased, and it was easier for her to participate in some of her favorite recreational activities again.
Sarah’s story highlights how physiotherapy can transform lives by addressing the root causes of back pain. Keep reading to learn more about physiotherapy, back pain, and the types of treatments we might suggest for you.
Why Does Physiotherapy Focus on the Cause of Back Pain?
When you visit our clinic for back pain, we’ll do the same thing we did for Sarah: perform a comprehensive evaluation to understand your specific experience with back pain.
Back pain can develop for a wide variety of reasons. The vast majority of back pain is what’s known as nonspecific back pain, which means no underlying disease or condition is causing the pain. Instead, it stems from postural issues (like what Sarah experienced) or some kind of injury.
By determining the reason for your back pain, we can provide a more personalized treatment plan. For example, an older person with spinal arthritis or degenerative disc disease (both long-term conditions without a cure) will require a different approach than someone who strained their back muscle (an injury that requires a few weeks of rehabilitation). And, as Sarah found out, addressing back pain means making some simple changes in your day-to-day life. Doing so helps prevent future occurrences.
What Back Pain Treatments Can You Expect at Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy back pain treatments typically include a combination of manual therapy, exercise programs, and patient education. Here are the details:
Manual Therapy
- Manual therapy refers to several noninvasive, hands-on techniques that can reduce pain, improve mobility, and boost blood circulation, which can facilitate your body’s healing processes. Examples include joint mobilization (guiding a joint through its range of motion) and soft tissue manipulation (manipulating the muscles or ligaments around a joint).
Therapeutic Exercise
- Exercise is a big part of combatting back pain. We’ll develop a customized exercise program to strengthen core muscles and promote better posture. In addition to targeted strengthening exercises, we can also help you develop an at-home exercise program to ensure you stay active (which minimizes back pain)
Education, Ergonomics, and Prevention
- We don’t just want to address your current back pain–we want to help you avoid future back pain if at all possible! To accomplish this, we’ll help you practice proper body mechanics, lifting form, and posture. We can also help you develop strategies specific to your situation–such as helping Sarah establish a regular schedule for getting up from her desk.
Address Your Back Pain with Physiotherapy!
The team at For Health’s Sake wants to help you live a healthy, active lifestyle. No matter the reason for your back pain, our (town)-based therapists will work hard to find a salutation that meets your needs.
Schedule an appointment today to get started.