Are you struggling with persistent back pain and simply can not get to the root of it? You haven’t pulled a back muscle recently, and there’s no evidence of arthritis or a similar underlying condition. Before you let your frustration get the better of you, consider this: your posture could be at fault. Fortunately, physiotherapy for posture-related back pain can help you find relief!
We frequently hear about the importance of good posture. Most people assume this is for appearance-related concerns, but the reality is that poor posture can lead to strain on our lower back–a significant contributor to back pain.
But what is good posture, exactly? Your parents might have told you to “stand up straight,” but the physiotherapists at For Health’s Sake take a different view. Good posture isn’t about having a perfectly straight spine at all times. Instead, you want to strive to find the correct spinal alignment for your body. When your spine is aligned, your muscles, joints, and ligaments can all work more efficiently–and with less pain.
Are you curious to learn more about the role of posture in minimizing or resolving back pain? Keep reading for an in-depth examination of physiotherapy for posture-related back pain–then schedule an appointment at our Toronto clinic to get started with your own customized program!
Understanding the Common Causes of Back Pain
One of the reasons back pain can be so frustrating is that it can be challenging to understand what precisely is causing it. Often, back pain seems to appear randomly, with no clear underlying condition. Of course, there always is some sort of cause–and our physiotherapists can help you get to the bottom of it!
Firstly, let’s look at some of the common sources of back pain:
- Sprains and Strains: These are among the most frequent causes of lower back pain. A strain occurs when the muscles or tendons in your back become overstretched, and a sprain occurs when the same thing happens to the ligaments in your spine. Both sprains and strains cause back pain and restricted range of motion.
- Herniated Disc: This is another major source of lower back pain. It occurs when one of the vertebral discs–a flexible cushion of cartilage that protects the vertebrae from rubbing against each other–bulges or ruptures.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: Our spine changes as we get older, including our vertebral discs, which start to dry out and lose their elasticity. These changes can lead to back pain in and of themselves or contribute to disc herniation or other spinal issues, such as spinal stenosis.
So, where does posture fit in with all of this? Poor posture (such as frequent slouching) limits the capabilities of the core muscles–the muscles that support and stabilize your spine. This, in turn, puts excess pressure on the spinal column and other muscles in the area, making you more likely to suffer an injury, such as a sprain, strain, or may even lead to a herniated disc. It also contributes to the degenerative process known as degenerative disc disease.
Correcting your posture leads to improved functioning of your back and core muscles, leading to improved spinal health overall!
Physiotherapy Techniques to Help with Posture-Related Back Pain
Our therapists offer several different techniques that can help you improve your posture, strengthen your core, and improve the health of your back and spine.
One of the first things we’ll do is conduct a thorough physical examination where we’ll pinpoint exact areas of weakness or impairment. We’ll take a complete health history, deep dive into your symptoms, and perform several movement screens that test your strength, mobility, and, of course, posture.
From there, we’ll develop a customized treatment plan that pulls from the following techniques:
- Postural Corrections: We go beyond “stand up straight” with personalized feedback and strategies to help you find the right spinal alignment for your body. We’ll identify your body’s ideal neutral position and provide strategies to help you with postural awareness when sitting, walking, running, standing, and more.
- Manual Therapy: These hands-on techniques can help reduce pain, improve spinal mobility, and ease muscle tension–all of which can prepare you for more intense treatments, such as therapeutic exercise.
- Mobility Exercises: A restricted range of motion can often contribute to back pain. We’ll help loosen up your joints so you can move better.
- Strengthening Exercises: A strong, balanced core will provide your spine with the support that it needs (and can help you maintain good spinal alignment). We’ll identify which muscles might be overly weak, causing others to work overtime–and then provide you with a customized exercise program to target those specific areas of weakness.
Our therapists will provide real-time feedback and pain management throughout your physiotherapy sessions. As you show improvement, we’ll increase the intensity of your exercises to help you see real progress.
Got Posture-Related Back Pain? Physiotherapy is Here to Help
Back pain is one of the most common sources of discomfort, impairment, and disability in the world. The good news is that physiotherapy alone is often enough to resolve those issues, helping you to find lasting relief.
If you think you might benefit from physiotherapy for posture-related back pain, request an appointment with For Health’s Sake today!