Physiotherapy for Back and Neck Pain
Physiotherapy has been shown to be effective in the management of back and neck pain. Here we will discuss what the components of an excellent physiotherapy program for back or neck pain are and learn about these painful conditions.
Back Pain Physiotherapy
Over 80% of the population will experience persistent back pain at some point in their life. Pain can be intense and will often limit an individual’s function for a period of time. Most back pain can be managed with Physiotherapy enabling people to return to an active pain free life.
Back pain comes in several types and may include different diagnoses. A skilled Physiotherapist can assess your back pain to determine what type of spinal disorder you are suffering from and design a treatment plan that will be effective at addressing your specific condition. A herniated disc requires a different treatment plan than spinal stenosis or spondylolisthesis so it is important that your Physiotherapist spend time classifying your back pain before starting treatment.
Common Treatments for Back Pain
Physiotherapy for back pain may involve some of the following treatments;
- Manual (hands on) Therapy
- Core muscle strengthening
- Range of motion exercises
- Soft tissue treatment
- Joint manipulation
- Postural retraining
- Ergonomic advice/assessment
- Thermal modalities (heat/ice)
- Acupuncture or other pain-relieving techniques
- Therapeutic taping
Passive electrical modalities and machines that are applied to the body have not been shown to be effective in the treatment of back or neck pain.
Neck Pain Physiotherapy
Neck pain is among the most common musculo-skeletal complaints in the developed world. While most episodes of neck pain are not an indication of any serious illness, the pain experienced can be severe causing people to seek physiotherapy treatment to reduce and ultimately eliminate their pain.
Physiotherapy for neck pain has the goal of restoring normal range of motion, strength and reducing pain. This is accomplished by first getting an understanding of the factors that have contributed to the development of the problem. Some common contributing factors to neck pain are;
- Poor neck muscle strength
- Poor shoulder girdle strength
- Postural dysfunction or a sedentary lifestyle
- Poor ergonomics
- Trauma
- Awkward sleep positions
Effective physiotherapy for neck pain will address and change the factors that led to the development of your problem. A physiotherapy treatment plan may also consist of many of the treatment techniques listed above (under back pain).
If you are suffering from neck or back pain it is important to find a Physiotherapist skilled in the assessment and treatment of this problem. With a well-constructed Physiotherapy plan the vast majority of patients can overcome their back or neck pain.
Therapia physiotherapists are experienced in the management of back and neck pain. To get started, click here to book an appointment or call