Low Back Pain Physiotherapy Treatment
Low back pain is one of the most prevalent conditions causing pain and impairment worldwide. It is a common ailment caused by many factors affecting the spine, discs, joints, muscles, or nerves.
Low back pain and dysfunction can be effectively managed with physiotherapy treatment.
At Opal Physiotherapy Clinic, we specialize in providing effective, evidence-based treatments for various musculoskeletal conditions, including low back pain. Our experienced physiotherapists are dedicated to helping you reduce pain and regain your mobility, strength, and optimal health.
Low back pain
Low back pain (LBP) refers to any pain felt in the lower back, including but not limited to the lumbar spine and sacrum. It is a common condition affecting millions of people worldwide. It can range from a mild ache to severe, debilitating pain that interferes with daily activities.
LBP can be one of the most debilitating types of pain a person can experience at any time, with or without known risk factors and is a leading cause of missed work and poor productivity at work and home.
Back pain is a very complex symptom that can have many different reasons. However, the leading causes of low back pain are poor posture, injury and physical strain.
Causes of low back pain
Lower back discomfort can have many causes, some more serious than others. But in most circumstances, they have a musculoskeletal source and do not involve marked structural injury.
Causes of low back pain can include
- Strains and sprains: Back strains and sprains are the most common cause of back pain. You can injure muscles, tendons, or ligaments by lifting something too heavy or not lifting safely, causing overstretching or tearing.
- Osteoarthritis: The breakdown of cartilage in the joints can affect the spine’s facet joints and lead to back pain.
- Degenerative disc disease: The gradual breakdown of discs between the vertebrae due to aging or wear and tear can lead to back pain.
- Herniated or ruptured discs: are when the fibrous outer layer of the spine, called a disc, ruptures and pushes out into the spinal column.
- Facet joint Pain: A facet joint is an articulation between two vertebrae. Facet pain is a type of pain that occurs when the joints between the vertebrae in your spine are irritated or become stiff.
- Spinal stenosis: The narrowing of the spinal canal, often caused by age-related changes, can put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, resulting in pain.
- Scoliosis: An abnormal curvature of the spine can cause back pain, especially if the curvature is severe.
- Traumatic injury: A fall, car accident, or other traumatic event can cause fractures, sprains, or other injuries to the structures in the back, leading to pain.
- Mechanical issues: Mechanical issues and soft-tissue injuries commonly cause low back pain. These injuries can include damage to the intervertebral discs, compression of nerve roots, and improper movement of the spinal joints.
- Improper lifting: Using the back instead of the legs can lead to back pain
- Lack of exercise: Weak, unused muscles in the back and abdomen might lead to back pain
- Excess weight: Excess body weight puts extra stress on the back
- Poor posture: this can result in muscle imbalances leading to back pain. Improper postures, such as slouching and rounding of the lower back, causing tight muscles that pull on the spine or pressure on the nerves, are often responsible for back pain.
- Psychological conditions: People prone to depression and anxiety appear to have a greater risk of back pain
- Age: Back pain is more common with age, starting around age 30 or 40
- Inflammatory arthritis disorders or other medical conditions
- Disease: Spine tumours and cancer can cause back pain.
Less commonly, low back pain may also be caused by Infections of the spine (such as osteomyelitis) or inflammation of the spine (such as ankylosing spondylitis).
Other conditions like kidney stones, abdominal aortic aneurysms, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (in women), and tumours (benign or cancerous) can also cause low back pain.
Physiotherapy treatment for low back pain in Langley
Our physiotherapists will conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine the underlying cause of your low back pain and develop a personalized treatment plan to address your specific needs. Our treatments may include the following:
- Manual therapy to mobilize joints and soft tissues
- Exercise prescription to improve mobility, strength, and stability
- Postural and ergonomic education to prevent future injury
- Pain management techniques, such as heat, ice, and modalities
- Education on self-management strategies for long-term success
Learn more about musculoskeletal physiotherapy treatment.
McKenzie’s method for assessment and treatment
One of the approaches we use at Opal Physiotherapy Clinic is the McKenzie method, a proven assessment and treatment system developed by New Zealand physiotherapist Robin McKenzie. This method focuses on classifying low back pain conditions into specific subgroups, allowing our physiotherapists to provide targeted treatment based on your unique presentation.
Assessment
Our physiotherapists will perform a thorough McKenzie assessment, which includes:
- A detailed history of your low back pain and related symptoms
- A physical examination that evaluates your range of motion, strength, and pain response to specific movements
- Classification of your low back pain condition into one of the McKenzie categories
Treatment
Based on your McKenzie assessment, our physiotherapists will develop a targeted treatment plan that may include the following:
- Specific exercises to address your unique pain pattern and movement limitations
- Manual therapy techniques to assist with pain reduction and improve mobility
- Education on self-treatment strategies to empower you to manage your low back pain independently
Get started on your road to recovery
Our goal is to help you overcome your low back pain and get back to enjoying life without limitations. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced physiotherapists in Langley and begin your journey toward a pain-free life.