Start relieving your back pain so it doesn’t impede your overall quality of life!
Did you know back pain is one of Canada’s most common musculoskeletal conditions? Nearly 80% of adults will have at least one episode of back pain in their life, and the vast majority of those cases will be nonspecific back pain, with pain caused by injury or dysfunction rather than an underlying illness. While it can be good to know you aren’t alone in experiencing back pain, that doesn’t resolve the pain itself. Fortunately, physiotherapy at Newcastle Physiotherapy can help you in relieving your back pain! We can help you address pain in the short term, and in the long term, we’ll work with you to resolve the pain at its source.
While acute back pain often does resolve on its own, that relief is frequently temporary–most people who have one incident of lower back pain will have another. Other people may struggle with chronic back pain, which means their pain lasts for three months or more, far longer than the expected recovery time for an injury.
No matter what sort of back pain your experience–acute, recurring, or chronic–our team of physiotherapists will help you identify the source of your pain so we can find a relief solution that works for you. To learn more about our approach to back pain, schedule an appointment at our office!
What Are the Common Causes of Back Pain?
One of the reasons back pain is so pervasive is because it has several different potential causes, and so the first step in alleviating your pain is identifying that cause. Our therapists can help with this process by evaluating your pain’s exact sensation and location and any accompanying symptoms.
Here are just a few potential sources of your back pain:
- Injury is among the most common causes of lower back pain, especially among younger people. Sometimes that injury may result from a single major trauma (such as a car accident), but more often, back pain stems from repetitive strain injuries–several small traumas over time. In these cases, overstraining the back muscles or ligaments is the culprit.
- A herniated disc occurs when an intervertebral disc in the spine bulges or tears. In addition to back pain, it can also cause sciatica (sharp, shooting pain down the back of the leg). Sometimes, it causes no pain at all.
- Degenerative disc disease isn’t actually a disease but a natural part of the aging process. As we get older, our intervertebral discs start to flatten and lose their elasticity, and if your vertebrae rub against each other, it can cause pain.
- Osteoarthritis is a condition caused by the deterioration of cartilage in the joints. While knee and hip osteoarthritis are the most common, it can cause back pain when it occurs in the spine.
Our physiotherapists will work to identify the source of your back pain through a comprehensive assessment during your first appointment. We’ll take a full health history and discuss your symptoms: What does the pain feel like? Does it stay in one place or radiate out to your extremities?
We’ll also conduct several physical tests that assess your strength, mobility, balance, posture, and more. These tests help us identify impairments you may not have noticed and offer additional information we can use to determine the reason for your back pain.
How Can Physiotherapy Help in Relieving Back Pain?
As you might expect, back pain is one of the most common complaints we see at Newcastle Physiotherapy, and we have extensive experience in helping patients to manage it. We offer several approaches and will work with you to develop a customized program that suits your needs.
Although every program will be different, here are just a few of the approaches we might take to help you manage your back pain:
- Manual Therapy: Manual therapy is a set of hands-on techniques that promotes mobility and can help reduce acute pain. Depending on your situation, we may utilize spinal manipulation (guiding your spinal joints through their range of motion) or soft tissue manipulation of the back muscles.
- Strengthening Exercises: A strong body means a well-supported spine, relieving pressure and reducing pain. We’ll show you exercises to strengthen your core muscles and improve your stability.
- Mobility Exercises: Movement keeps your joints healthy, and your spine is no exception. We’ll show you gentle, effective back stretches to improve your range of motion and flexibility.
- Education and At-Home Strategies: We’ll show you proper lifting techniques and suggest how to improve your spinal health at home. This might mean being more aware of your posture or avoiding prolonged periods of sitting.
We Can Help You Find Back Pain Relief
At Newcastle Physiotherapy, we understand how debilitating back pain can be. Bad back pain can prevent you from staying active, completing chores, working, or spending quality time with friends and loved ones. That’s why we always work to identify the source of the pain first. Because once we know the source, we can provide the best possible management program.
Don’t let back pain keep you from living your life. Request an appointment so we can help you find the comfort you deserve!
