Back Pain feels like your youth leaving the body. A complaint of millions these days be it of any age and the gold standard for its relief is adequate physiotherapy. Physiotherapy for back pain has advanced with ages and gives prompt results even more than medications can ever make it possible.
What are the types of back pain?
- Discogenic Pain :- de-arrangement of intervertebral disc .
- Canal Stenosis:– spondylitis or inflammation of vertebra.
- Spondylolisthesis:– forward displacement of a vertebra over the lower region.
- Tumor of spine
- Facet joint arthritis
- Idiopathic:- unknown cause.
Aim of physiotherapy for back pain management?
In general, the purposes of physiotherapy are to diminish pain, improve function, and give education on a maintenance program to limit additional recurrences. A physiotherapy plan for back pain normally has two parts:-
- Passive physical therapy to assist diminishing the patient’s pain to a more controllable level
- Active exercises
Passive Physiotherapy Intervention for Back Pain:–
Acutely, the physiotherapist may focus on decreasing pain with passive physiotherapy (interventions). These therapies are passive because the patient doesn’t have to do much. Much like Hands-on Physical Therapy. Examples include:
Heat/ice packs:-. Each variety of therapy aids in reducing muscle spasm and swelling. Some sufferers find more pain relief with heat therapy utilizing heat packs and others with cold therapy treatment such as ice massage. Switching is possible between the two. Generally, the application happens for 10-20 minutes once every two hours and is more useful early on (the first few days) in the course of an episode of pain.
TENS units:- TENS Units for Electrotherapy — A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) unit uses electrical stimulation to modulate the sensation of low back pain by overriding the painful signals that are sent to the brain. An examination of electrotherapy with the TENS unit is normally done first, and if the patient undergoes ample pain relief, a TENS unit may be practiced at home for low back pain relief on a long-term basis.
Iontophoresis:- Iontophoresis is a means of delivering steroids through the skin. The steroid is implemented to the skin and then an electrical current is sent that prompts it to move under the skin. The steroids then give an anti-inflammatory effect in the general area that is inducing pain. This modality is particularly efficient in reducing acute occurrences of pain.
Ultrasound:- Ultrasound is a kind of deep heating in which sound waves are used to the skin and seep into the soft tissues. Ultrasound is particularly helpful in curing acute occurrences of pain and may improve tissue healing.
Active Exercises:-
In addition to passive therapies, active physiotherapy (exercise) is also necessary to rehabilitate the back pain. Ordinarily, a patient’s back exercise schedule should include the following:-
Stretching for back pain exercises:- Almost every person who has sustained low back pain should stretch their hamstring muscles once or twice regularly. Easy hamstring stretching does not take much time. Although it can be tricky to remember, especially if there is little or no pain. Therefore, doing hamstring stretching exercises at the same time every day is best. So, it becomes part of a person’s everyday routine.
Strengthening for back pain exercise:- To restore and strengthen the back muscles, 15 to 20 minutes of vigorous lumbar stabilization or other guided exercises should be completed every different day. Core muscle strengthening is also necessary for lower back pain therapy.
Low-impact aerobic conditioning:-Low impact aerobics are essential for long term pain decrease. There are many choices available, like walking, bicycling, swimming or water therapy. Aerobic exercise usually best done for 30 to 40 minutes three times weekly, on alternative days from the strengthening workouts.
Therapy and Counselling can also help in stress-induced back pain. Counselors and therapists won’t help you with your workouts. They will, however, help you lower your emotional tension, which naturally leads to change in the areas that are physically hurting, particularly the lower back.