Patients suffering from most types of low back pain are often referred for physical therapy for four weeks as an initial conservative treatment option before considering other more aggressive treatments, including back surgery. The goals of physical therapy are to decrease back pain, increase function, and teach the patient a maintenance program to prevent future back problems. Forms of Physical Therapy a. Passive physical therapy Passive physical therapy which includes things done to the patient, such as heat application, ice packs and electrical stimulation. For example, a heating pad may be applied to warm up the muscles prior to doing exercising and stretching, and an ice pack may be used afterward to sooth the muscles and soft tissues. b. Active physical therapy Active physical therapy, which focuses on specific exercises and stretching. For most low back pain treatments, active exercise is the focus of the physical therapy program. Exercise Benefits of Lower Back Pain Lumbar spine (low back) stability is largely dependent on the supporting abdominal (stomach) and low back musculature. The abdominal muscles provide the initial stabilizing support through their ability to generate pressure within the abdomen which is exerted posteriorly on the spine, thus providing an anterior support column (from the front of the spine). The low back muscles stabilize the spine from the back and lead to posterior support. Simply stated, the bony spine and discs are surrounded by muscles, and the stronger these specific muscles are, the less stress is placed on the discs and joints of the spine. The patients should develop a 'belt' of muscle around their spine. Physiotherapy Exercises to Reduce Lower Back Pain Here is a list of physiotherapy exercises for lower back pain that you can follow: a. Stretching Proper stretching of the muscles along with active exercise will help maintain normal range of motion and provide relief for muscles that are often suffering disuse atrophyor in spasm from inappropriate posture or nerve irritation. For many patients it is best to follow a stretching routine that has been individually designed for them by a physical therapist or a spine physician. As a general rule, low back pain patients should focus on stretching the lower back muscles, abdominal muscles, hips, and legs. The patient should never bounce during stretching, and all stretches should be slow and gradual. b. Dynamic stabilization exercises These exercises involve the use of a variety of exercises and may include use of exercise balls, balancing machines or specific stabilizing exercises. The point of dynamic stabilization exercise is to strengthen the secondary muscles of the spine and help support the spine through various ranges of motion. c. Core strengthening exercises These are specific exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles and low back muscles (erector spinae) to provide the aforementioned 'belt of muscle' around the spine. These exercises typically include:
How Effective Is Lumbar Traction? Another aspect of physiotherapy for back pain program may include lumbar traction. With lumbar traction, the patient lies on his back and is secured on a special table with a cable coming from the foot-end of the table that attaches to a strap that has been placed around the patient's hips. The cable is attached to weights at the foot-end of the table that provide a continuous and gentle pulling force on the hips toward the foot-end of the table. The goal of traction is to unload the disc space and muscles in the lumbar spine. This unloading is thought to provide a recuperative period which allows the muscles to rest and takes pressure off the disc space. Research about the effectiveness of traction is controversial, with some studies showing that it adds value and other studies showing that it is of little or no value for patients with low back pain. Some Other At Home Exercises The best physiotherapist in Kolkata suggests some more easy exercises that you can perform on your own at home. They are as follows: a. Cat and cow pose Lie on all fours and keep your back straight. Then, bend your spine outward and upward toward the ceiling. Hold this pose till you feel a stretch in your neck, then bend your back inward and downward till you feel a stretch in your lower back. Repeat this around ten times. b. Cobra stretches Lie in the prone position and keep your hands on either side of your chest. Keep your feet planted firmly on the floor and press into your hands as you push your upper body, from your chest to your head, upward. Hold this pose for a few seconds and then gently lower yourself. c. Prone leg lifts This is similar to the cobra stretch, except that instead of lifting your upper body, you keep it planted firmly down. Keeping your legs stretched out and close together, raise them in one continuous motion as much as you can, hold the pose, and lower your legs back to the ground. d. Bridges Bridges are extremely helpful if you want to strengthen your lower back. To perform a bridge correctly, lie down on your back and rest your outstretched arms by your side. Lift your hips off the floor, keeping your body from the head to the knees in a straight line. Hold and lower. e. Leg stretches Lie on your back with your knees raised upward and your feet flat on the ground. Raise your right foot up, loop a band or a towel around it, and gently pull your foot toward your chest, keeping your right leg straight and unbent till you feel a stretch in your hamstrings. Conclusion Keep in mind that these stretches and exercises of physiotherapy for lower back pain may offer temporary relief, but it’s always advisable to get yourself medically evaluated for chronic back pain. Thus, it is highly recommended that once a patient is treated successfully with physical therapy, he develops an exercise maintenance program at home to help sustain the strength and muscle mass that was developed in physical therapy.
2 Comments
12/20/2021 10:18:52 pm
Thanks for sharing this informative blog. The spinal cord is a complicated network of nerve cells that control movement and feeling. It passes information from the brain to the rest of the body. For any further pieces of information, you may visit this article: https://bit.ly/33Asnzd
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12/20/2023 05:12:52 am
What a comprehensive and empathetic dive into pain treatment! Your article beautifully captures the multidimensional approach needed for effective pain management. Thank you for shedding light on these invaluable strategies.
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