Back pain is a common problem experienced by many Australians. In fact, 1 in 6 Australians report having back issues in 2014-2015. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2017-2018 National Health Survey (NHS), 16% of the total population, which is around 4 million Australians reported having back problems. [1] As you can see, it is a condition that impacts many people.
For most people, back pain comes on quickly and disappears after a few weeks.
However, it is common for the pain to linger around and slowly develop into a more persistent pain, therefore reducing the quality of life and can lead to disability.
Physiotherapy helps to:
- Reduce pain
- Improve range of motion
- Reduce stiffness
- Strengthen the back
- Work on a long-term recovery plan for more severe instances of back pain
Where is My Back Pain Coming From?
While rarely is low back pain life-threatening, there are conditions that may be related to your low back pain like:
However, back pain can also be caused by something as mundane as fatigued, weak back muscles or muscles that have been overworked in the weight room.
When Should I See a Physiotherapist to Treat My Back Pain?
Generally, most people recover from acute back pack within weeks, whether they seek help or self-manage. Often, taking pain relieve medication and keeping active is a great start to help reduce pain and regain function.
However, it is still important for you to visit your local physiotherapist for a thorough evaluation, including:
- Reviewing your history
- Asking about symptoms
- An examination includes assessing how well you can move and what movements are impeded by the back pain
- Tests to help find symptoms and signs which may indicate a problem like cancer, broken bones and other issues
- Assessing how you move at home, work or sports to prevent further injuries
Your general practitioner may refer you for further investigations like x-ray, CT scans or MRI scans. However, these investigations are not required as a first point of call to diagnose your back issues.
When you take charge of your back health early, surgery is rarely needed unless there is a more serious underlying issue left untreated.
How Can Physiotherapy Help?
Your local physiotherapist aims to restore your mobility and improve your range of motion. Consequently, that will also reduce back pain, all without spending time and money to undergo the ordeal associated with expensive back surgery.
It is worth mentioning that all back pain isn’t the same for everyone, which is why the treatment may have to be tailored to your condition and symptoms.
Your physiotherapist will evaluate the examination results, identify factors contributing to the pain, and draft a plan to help address it.
Backpain treatment may include:
- Manual therapy helps improve joint mobility and heal soft tissues
- Work on strengthening the back’s muscles and improving flexibility via exercise rehabilitation
- Education on how to take better care of your back and being aware of your posture
- Teaching proper lifting techniques and suggesting better work ergonomics
- Assisting in effective and safe physical activity programs which help improve health
- Using ice and heat treatments or maybe electrical stimulation for pain relief
Back pain can, quite frankly, reduce your quality of life immensely. If not addressed early on, it can lead to several other often emotional and psychological issues.
That’s why it is recommended that you seek treatment sooner rather than later.
Are you suffering from back pain? Has this pain been with you for a while?
Book an appointment to see our physio today. We provide high quality physio at Doreen.
References:
[1] AIHW analysis of ABS 2019a, https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/back-problems/data