How is Back Physiotherapy Performed? What Causes Back Pain?

How is Back Physiotherapy Performed? What Causes Back Pain?

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people visit a doctor. Back pain often becomes so severe that the individual is unable to carry out daily activities. In this article, we aim to examine the benefits and method of performing back physiotherapy.

What causes back pain?

The most common cause of back pain is a combination of poor posture and lack of movement, which is usually seen in individuals who sit for long periods. This type of back pain is known as mechanical back pain and is usually not a serious condition. However, experiencing severe and persistent pain in the back can be distressing for the individual.

Back physiotherapy is very suitable for treating mechanical back pain. A physiotherapist can help by giving advice on correcting sitting posture and performing exercises at home so that your back pain may resolve within a few days to a few weeks.

In addition, the cause of back pain may be more complex. Some of the most important causes of back pain include:

• Muscle or ligament strain

• Bulging or ruptured discs

• Arthritis

• Osteoporosis

Muscle or ligament strain
Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement can strain back muscles and spinal ligaments. Poor physical condition and constant strain on the back can cause painful muscle spasms.

Bulging or ruptured discs
Discs act as cushions between the vertebrae in the spine. The soft material inside a disc can bulge or rupture and press on a nerve. However, it’s possible to have a bulging or ruptured disc without experiencing any back pain. Herniated disc disease is often discovered incidentally during an X-ray for another reason.

Arthritis
Arthritis can affect the lower back and cause severe back pain. In some cases, spinal arthritis can lead to narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition known as spinal stenosis.

Osteoporosis
If your bones become porous and brittle, the vertebrae of your spine may suffer painful fractures. This condition leads to severe back pain.

Who is at higher risk of back pain?
Anyone can develop back pain, even children and teenagers. The following factors may put you at greater risk of developing back pain:

• Age

• Lack of exercise

• Excess weight

• Diseases

• Improper lifting

• Psychological conditions

• Smoking

Age
Back pain commonly begins with age, around the 30s or 40s. However, it can also occur at younger ages—for example, due to obesity or improper backpack use among teenagers.

Lack of exercise
Weak, unused muscles in the back and abdomen can lead to back pain.

Excess weight
Being overweight puts extra stress on your back.

Diseases
Some types of arthritis and cancer can contribute to back pain.

Improper lifting
Using your back instead of your legs to lift heavy objects can result in back pain.

Psychological conditions
People prone to depression and anxiety seem to be at greater risk of back pain.

Smoking
Smokers have increased rates of back pain. This may be due to increased coughing caused by smoking. Smoking can also reduce blood flow to the spine and increase the risk of osteoporosis.

Methods of Diagnosing Back Pain
A doctor can usually diagnose back pain after asking about symptoms and performing a physical examination. If any of the following conditions exist, imaging scans and other tests may be required:

• If the back pain results from an injury

• If the back pain is due to an underlying cause

• If the pain persists for a long time

X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans can provide information about the condition of soft tissues in the back.

The methods for diagnosing back pain include:

• X-ray imaging

• MRI or CT scan

• Bone scan

• Electromyography (EMG)

X-ray imaging of the back
X-rays can show bone alignment and detect signs of arthritis or fractures, but they may not reveal damage in muscles, spinal cord, nerves, or discs.

MRI or CT scan of the back
MRI or CT scans can show herniated discs or problems in tissues, tendons, nerves, ligaments, blood vessels, muscles, and bones.

Bone scan
A bone scan can detect bone tumors or compression fractures caused by osteoporosis. In this method, a radioactive substance or tracer is injected into a vein. The tracer accumulates in the bones and helps the doctor detect bone problems using a special camera.

Electromyography or EMG
EMG measures the electrical impulses produced by nerves in response to muscles. This method can confirm nerve compression, which may be related to herniated discs or spinal stenosis.

What is back physiotherapy?
Back physiotherapy is a treatment that helps improve the movement and function of back joints and muscles and can reduce severe back pain. Additionally, treating back pain with physiotherapy can help reduce the risk of re-injury.

Physiotherapists use various techniques to treat back pain and also provide advice on back care by assessing the patient’s occupation and daily activities.

Why do we need physiotherapy for back pain treatment?
If you have back pain that significantly affects your life or hasn’t improved after a few weeks, it’s best to see a physiotherapist. Physiotherapy can be beneficial for various types of back pain.

Physiotherapy for back pain can help in the following cases:

• Non-specific back pain

• Sciatic back pain

• Spinal stenosis

Non-specific back pain
If no cause (such as an underlying medical condition or injury) is identified for the back pain, it is categorized as non-specific back pain.

Sciatic pain
This pain radiates from the back down to the legs and may be caused by a slipped disc (when a spinal disc bulges from its normal position and presses on a nerve).

Spinal stenosis
This occurs when the space around the spinal cord narrows and puts pressure on it, causing back pain. In such cases, a specialist may refer you to a physiotherapist, or you can directly visit a physiotherapy center.

A specialist or physiotherapist may recommend physiotherapy as part of a treatment package that includes manual therapy, an exercise program, and painkillers. Having the right combination of treatments can greatly help in managing back pain. A physiotherapist will also help you understand the underlying cause of your back pain so that you can take steps to manage it.

What happens during a back physiotherapy session?
When you first visit a physiotherapist, they will ask about your history of back pain. They will also inquire about underlying conditions, lifestyle, work environment, and medications you take. Finally, the physiotherapist will ask questions about your symptoms.

Next, a thorough physical examination will be conducted. During the exam, the therapist will assess your posture. The specialist may also perform a neurological evaluation to see how your nerves are functioning.

You may need to remove some clothing so the physiotherapist can see and feel your back. You can request to have a companion with you if you wish.

After the examinations, the physiotherapist will suggest the best treatment for your back pain and explain how it can help relieve the pain. It’s important to pay attention to everything the physiotherapist tells you during the examination.

What to expect after physiotherapy for back pain?
At the end of the first physiotherapy session, it will be determined how many treatment sessions you need. The number of sessions depends on the severity and duration of your back pain.