How Physiotherapy Helps to Alleviate Chronic Back Pain

If you are dealing with chronic back pain, you are not alone. Many Canadians deal with upper and lower chronic back pain, and it can drastically hamper your quality of life and limit your daily activities.

The truth about most chronic back conditions is that they will not get better over time. Physiotherapy is required to strengthen, loosen, or stabilize the joints and muscles to treat the pain.

Physiotherapy addresses various underlying causes and symptoms of chronic back pain. Through personalized treatment plans, a physiotherapist helps enhance mobility, strengthen muscles, and reduce discomfort.

Here are a few forms of chronic back pain that a physiotherapist can address.

1. Herniated Discs

A herniated disc occurs when the soft material inside a spinal disc bulge out, exerting pressure on nearby nerves and often results in intense pain and numbness.

Physiotherapy techniques, such as manual therapy, improve this condition by relieving pressure on the nerves by promoting flexibility and preventing future strain.

2. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis is a medical term for the narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back, leading to compression of nerve roots. This compression can cause back pain and leg weakness or numbness.

To treat Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, physiotherapists employ strength-building exercises to target the supportive muscles in the back and abdominal area, which can help stabilize the spine.

Stretching exercises (cat-cow stretch, bridging) also play a pivotal role in enhancing spinal mobility, offering significant relief from symptoms.

3. Chronic Muscle Strain

When we play sports, lift, or do anything without proper form and positioning, it adds strain to our backs. When muscles are overworked or used incorrectly, they become weak and prone to injury.

The most challenging part of chronic muscle strains is that most patients are unaware of what they are doing to cause them.

A physiotherapist detects the cause and introduces targeted strengthening exercises that build up under-utilized muscles while releasing tension through massage or heat therapy.

As you can see, physiotherapy offers a proven way to treat upper and lower chronic back pain. By targeting specific ailments with tailored approaches, they soothe pain and empower individuals with the knowledge and tools needed for long-term management.

Steveston Physiotherapy is a family-owned clinic focused on providing custom exercises and activities to ensure optimal recovery. We work closely with a small list of patients to prevent injuries, manage acute conditions, and minimize chronic pain.