Back pain is one of the most incapacitating conditions. Back pain, which can range from a dull ache to excruciating pain, can prevent you from performing simple daily tasks that you once enjoyed. If back pain is preventing you from doing the things you love, you’re not alone. Nearly 80% of the population will experience back pain at some point. Many people believe that surgery is the best option for relieving back pain. However, this treatment option is invasive, expensive, and can lead to months of recovery.
Fortunately, surgery is not your only option for back pain relief. A physiotherapist can help treat your pain and in some cases, help you avoid surgery altogether. To learn more about this effective and natural treatment option, contact For Health’s Sake in Toronto, Ontario today.
The benefits of PT before surgery
If you are already planning on surgery to help alleviate back pain, you may already have a recovery plan that includes physiotherapy. What you may not know is that physiotherapy is a great way to prepare for surgery as well.
Not only can it improve your cardiovascular function, physiotherapy can strengthen the muscles and muscle attachments in areas that will already be weakened by surgery. Even a few sessions with a physiotherapist have been shown to reduce postoperative care by more than 25 percent. Since most back surgery procedures require long periods of recovery, the idea of cutting it down by a fourth is appealing.
A physiotherapist will evaluate your current condition and pain level. They will consult with your surgeon for more information and any imaging studies that are available. The physiotherapist will then create a treatment plan aimed at immediate pain relief and strengthening the body in preparation for surgery.
If you will need the use of your arms for balance, the physiotherapist will help you strengthen your upper body in preparation. If you need better core strength to hold the structures of your spine in place, the physiotherapist will work on strengthening your muscles without causing additional damage.
Preventing injury with PT
It is important to remember that a physiotherapist is an expert in the way the body moves. We have a natural tendency to rest when we are in pain, rather than move. In reality, many people who experience back pain need to learn how to move better.
Physiotherapy can help you regain lost movement in your back and legs while decreasing your pain levels. A physiotherapist can also show you how to prevent further injury in your daily life by teaching you how to bend, lift, stretch, sit, stand, or walk in ways that relieve your back pain.
Can I find relief in physiotherapy?
Many people associate physiotherapy with a post-surgical treatment plan. While it does play a vital role in helping patients recover once they have been under the knife, it is also an incredible tool for pain relief. A physiotherapist can treat acute pain with manual therapies such as heat, ice, electrical stimulation, and massage.
However, what most people don’t realize is that pain relief often requires strengthening the structures around the injury, not just treating the injury itself. If you are experiencing back pain, you may need to strengthen your core muscles in your abdomen and legs to help your back find relief.
This process is not a fast one, but a physiotherapist can show you exercises that are aimed at relieving your pain.
Physiotherapy: a safe, natural, and effective solution
According to research on back pain, physiotherapy treatments are effective for acute and chronic conditions. Manual therapy, joint mobilization manipulation, exercise instruction, education, and techniques such as the McKenzie Method and therapeutic yoga are examples of physiotherapy treatments for back pain. All of these have been shown to help relieve pain and restore function.
Physiotherapists evaluate your specific condition to identify and address all contributing factors of your back pain. Rather than focusing on a single source of pain, your physiotherapist will address all of them.
At Health’s Sake our physiotherapists are experienced in hands-on intervention and exercise selection. So you can be sure you’ll receive the most comprehensive and appropriate treatment plan to help you resolve your pain and/or restore your function.
Request an appointment with Health’s Sake today!
Whether you are considering surgery or already have a surgical date, call our Toronto, Ontario office to schedule a free physiotherapy consultation and start experiencing relief.