Are you one of the thousands of people who deal with neck and back pain? Have you struggled with chronic pain for years? Do you feel like you will never get rid of your aches? If so, here is some amazing news: you are NOT stuck with neck and back pain!
Can Physiotherapy Replace Surgery?
Whatever degree of pain you are experiencing, there is an excellent chance that physiotherapy can ease it. According to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, physiotherapy “helps restore movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness or disability.” It is through manual therapy, exercise, advice, and education that physiotherapists are able to effectively treat neck and back pain. In some cases, physiotherapy patients become totally pain-free.
In a recent study, it was found that exercise, which is a vital component of physiotherapy, helped 30 percent of neck pain sufferers get rid of this pesky type of pain. When it comes to treating certain types of back pain, physiotherapy is just as potent. Howard LeWine, MD, Chief Editor for Harvard Health Publications, says, “One type of lower back pain, called lumbar spinal stenosis, is sometimes treated with surgery. But (physiotherapy) works just as well, and comes with fewer unwanted complications — some of them life-threatening — than surgery…”
How a Physiotherapist Treats Neck and Back Pain
When you visit a physiotherapist for the first time, he or she will talk to you about your pain – how it feels, where it is located and when it began. Next, the healthcare professional will ask for information about your medical background and will examine your spine and thoracic mobility. Then, as stated by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, your physiotherapist will “(use) manual therapy and other treatment techniques (to) help you to regain lost mobility, provide you with instructions on how to achieve ideal postural alignment, and prescribe therapeutic exercises that will support your spine.” He or she will also teach you about stretching and help you attain good posture.
Tips for Reducing Pain Now
Here are a few tips that will help you manage your neck and back pain until you can see a physiotherapist:
1. Strengthen your core – How many times have you heard about the importance of strengthening your core muscles? Probably lots. A strong core is a powerful antidote to pain, so make it a point to slowly introduce core-strengthening exercises into your daily routine.
2. Work on flexibility – Most people will admit that their flexibility is lacking. Is yours? If so, lightly stretch your body each day. You’ll see a marked improvement in your flexibility after several weeks. Your physiotherapist can help you with this, as well as with core strengthening.
3. Get moving – Do you sit at a computer during your workday? If so, be sure to get up every half hour or so and take a trip to the restroom or to get some water. It’s vital that people who have bodily pain avoid becoming sedentary.
Isn’t it comforting to know that physiotherapy, a 100 percent drug-free treatment, is capable of quelling neck and back pain? Contact a physiotherapist today to take the first step on your journey to becoming pain-free!