The spine and back pain
Back pain is an extremely common condition and accounts for over 50 percent of our caseload at Reform. The exact cause of back pain is often misdiagnosed, with many patients having unnecessary imaging, surgeries, treatments and medications prescribed.
The spine consists of intervertebral discs, facet joints, ligaments, muscles and nerves.
Discs are made out of collagen and are designed to act as a shock absorber. There is a gel-like centre within the disc which allow our spines to move.
Facet joints lie either side of the spine and have a hook-like shape. They provide support and articulation between vertebrae and ensure we can bend, twist and turn safely.
The spinal cord runs in the centre of the vertebrae and is therefore protected by the vertebrae themselves, discs, ligaments and muscles that run along the spine.
There is a plethora of ligaments, muscles and connective tissues surrounding the spine providing stability, support and movement.
Movement of the spine is essential to keep the joints and tissues healthy.
Low back pain
Approximately 70% of the Western world will experience a lower back issue within their lifetime, with a high percentage having recurrent issues. Majority of low back pain cases recover within 12 weeks time with very few presenting as a sinister condition. Pain can result from a direct trauma such as a slip or sporting injury causing damage to a muscle, ligament or joint. It can also present for no known reason. Evidence has shown how the lack of sleep, anxiety, depression and lack of movement can all contribute to lower back pain symptoms. Understanding the type of back pain you have and how to manage your symptoms is important to ensure optimal healing and prevent recurrence.
Many patients will be told that they require investigations such as an MRI to show which structure of the spine is damaged. However, even the most comprehensive investigations and imaging often will not pin point the exact structure or reason a person has pain. MRI is not required in majority of low back pain patients. ‘Spinal degeneration’ is reported in a high percentage of the population, including those with no symptoms. Diagnosis based solely on the findings from an MRI are therefore often misleading.
Low back is multifactorial and we should therefore only be using MRI if clinically relevant.
Whether your symptoms are acute (less than 6 weeks) or persistent (3months +), you should respond well once a thorough assessment has taken place to allow a therapist to provide you with the right advice, treatment and management plan.
If you are suffering with low back pain, Physiotherapy is a great intervention to help you understand your pain, provide treatments to assist with pain relief and assist with a management plan to prevent the recurrence of symptoms.
What to expect if you come to see us at Reform?
Out aim is to provide you with a thorough management plan and to ensure you are fully aware of what steps are required to get you back to your full level of fitness and doing the stuff you love as soon as possible.
On your initial session, a thorough assessment will be completed to ensure we have a complete understanding of your issue(s) along with your past medical history.
A physical assessment will then take place.
Following the subjective and objective assessment, we will then discuss with you why you may be experiencing pain and how I can help or whether an onward referral is necessary.
Advice, treatment and a management plan will then be provided.
Your condition and severity of symptoms, will dictate what treatment techniques will be provided.
Manual therapy such as deep tissue release, massage, mobilisations, stretches and acupuncture can be provided if clinically indicated.
An individualised exercise plan will always be provided to you as exercise is one of the most powerful tools we have for majority of low back pain cases. We will link you up to an app called ‘Physiapp’. This will allow us to track your pain levels between sessions and make changes to exercises if necessary.
