The Role of Physiotherapy for Back Pain

Back pain can slow you down and even stop you in your tracks. If you’ve suffered from back pain – whether from an acute injury or chronic strain– you’ve probably tried many approaches and gotten a lot of different advice on how to make it better.  Some people only consider physiotherapy after they’ve gone through a laundry list of home remedies, but physiotherapy can make a difference regardless of what stage of back pain you are in right now. Even if the source of your chronic pain hasn’t been identified, physiotherapy can help you get back to doing what you love and keep you from missing work.But shouldn’t I just be resting until I feel better? Although this depends on the exact nature and severity of your pain, most physiotherapists – anywhere in the world – will try to avoid putting you on bed rest or otherwise immobilizing you for longer than a few days. Bed rest may be helpful to get through the first day or two after an injury, but a review of multiple studies suggests there is no difference whatsoever in pain or function between staying active and staying in bed, even just one week after the pain starts.When it comes to pain that isn’t related to a specific injury, not only is long-term bed rest impractical, it also isn’t helpful: for sciatica patients, the benefits of bed rest are negligible after two weeks, no better than simply going about your business and being mindful about your back.

What will be doing?

 

Physiotherapist we will probably combine multiple approaches in treating you, because everyone is different and requires different care. Most likely, the care you receive will involve or more of these activities:  Stretching and strengthening exercises;  Soft tissue massage and manual therapy;  Applying heat or cold to affected area;  Traction & Dry Needling (if needed);  Posture correction ;  3D Consultation;  Work Ergonomics

What if I don’t like doing the exercises?

Your active participation is a very important part of getting better and staying in the game of life.Your physiotherapist is your coach and will pick exercises for you designed to improve your body’s function, and some may be uncomfortable when you first do them.This may make you want to stop your treatment, but there is good evidence that working with this pain – under the direction of your physiotherapist – will get you through to a future with less pain. This is why it’s key to stick to your routine and see your treatment through to the end, keeping your physiotherapist informed of how things feel as you progress so that the exercises can be adapted if need be.that’s a good thing.There has even been a study showing that physiotherapy is just as effective a treatment for back pain whether or not you agree with your physiotherapist all of the time.Everyone has their own opinions on how to manage their own health, and your Physiotherapist will work with you to help get you back to what you want to be doing.

What if I don’t like doing the exercises?

Your active participation is a very important part of getting better and staying in the game of life.Your physiotherapist is your coach and will pick exercises for you designed to improve your body’s function, and some may be uncomfortable when you first do them.This may make you want to stop your treatment, but there is good evidence that working with this pain – under the direction of your physiotherapist – will get you through to a future with less pain. This is why it’s key to stick to your routine and see your treatment through to the end, keeping your physiotherapist informed of how things feel as you progress so that the exercises can be adapted if need be.Everyone has their own opinions on how to manage their own health, and that’s a good thing. There has been more than one study proving that Physiotherapy is just as effective a treatment for back pain whether or not you agree with your physiotherapist all of the time.

How can I get started?

If you’re ready to consider adding a Physiotherapy service to your fight against back pain, come and speak with one of the trained physiotherapists in Namibia. We would love to help you get back to your regular life, and we are ready to listen and work with you on a personalized approach.