All back pain sufferers should be thoroughly examined by a spinal health practitioner, eg. a physiotherapist. Back pain can be caused by numerous injuries and the treatment does vary significantly depending on your diagnosis. Physiotherapy treatment for simple back pain is designed to protect your injury, while hastening your muscle and ligament healing, and then looking at strategies to prevent a recurrence. 

Your physiotherapist has some nifty tricks for quickly relieving your back pain so that you can enjoy life again as soon as possible.

Back pain treatment can consists of the following modules:

Pain Relief & Protection

Managing your back pain is the main reason that you seek treatment for low back pain. In truth, it is actually the last symptom that you developed but it will be the first one to improve.

Your physiotherapist will use an array of treatment tools like ice, electrotherpy etc. to protect your back and reduce your pain and inflammation. Your doctor may also recommend a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.

Restoring Normal ROM, Strength

As your back pain and inflammation settles, your physiotherapist will turn their attention to restoring your normal back motion, muscle lengths and resting muscle tension, muscle strength and endurance, proprioception, balance and gait (walking pattern).

Your physiotherapist will commence you on a lower back core stability program to facilitate your important muscles that dynamically control and stabilise your low back and pelvis. Your physiotherapist will assess your muscle recruitment pattern and prescribe the best exercises for you specific to your needs.

Restoring Full Function

Depending on your chosen sport, work or activities of daily living, your physiotherapist will aim to restore your function to safely allow you to return to your desired activities. Everyone has different demands for their backs that will determine what specific treatment goals you need to achieve. For some it is simply to walk around the block. Others may wish to run a marathon.

Your physiotherapist will tailor your rehabilitation to help you achieve your own functional goals.

Preventing a Back Pain Recurrence

Recurrence of low back pain can and does regularly occur. The main reason it is thought to recur is due to insufficient rehabilitation. In particular, poor deep abdominal core muscle exercises have been shown to render your back more vulnerable to instability and therefore re-injury.

To prevent a recurrence, you should continue a regular series of these exercises a few times per week. Think of your exercises as your anti-back pain pill! Your physiotherapist will assist you in identifying the best exercises for you.

Back Pain Treatment Options

There are many treatment options that your Physiotherapist will discuss with you in the treatment of your pain. Treatment varies based upon the source of your individual symptoms.

Back Brace

A back brace or corset can provide excellent relief for most sciatica sufferers. Those who gain the most benefit are those who find their pain easing when they wrap/bind a towel or sheet (folded-lengthwise) tightly around their stomach and back. If this simple test eases your pain, you should use a back brace in the short-term. Back braces and strong deep core muscles help to avoid a recurrence in the future.

Massage

Massage always feels wonderful, plus it has wonderful muscle relaxation benefits. Massage is particularly useful when muscle spasm or chronic muscle tension is present. Regular remedial massage is also a very handy low back pain prevention strategy.

TENS Machine

TENS machines are an electronic pain relieving device that will reduce your pain and your need for pain relieving drugs.