Home > Blog > Physiotherapy > Conditions > Spinal Pain > Back Ache and Physiotherapy

Back Ache and Physiotherapy



67% of adults suffer from back aches and pains every year...and of these 70%, more than half of them develops long term back pain (chronic back pain).

This basically means that at least 34% of adults have chronic long term back pain.

Back pain can be cause by a variety of problems, because it's so complex. It can be due to the disc, or the joints, or the back muscles, or the ligaments attached to the back.

As clinicians, we note that most of the patients we've seen in our experience who suffer from back aches and pains develop them more likely due to postural and repetitive strains over time.

In some cases of back injuries and pains, it can cause sciatica, where the disc in the spine dislocates to one side, and this compresses onto the nerves there.

This is turn causes a nerve-type pain where one may experience pain, tingling, crawling, numbness, cold or stabbing pain that travels (also termed as radiating) down one side of their buttocks, thighs and back of calves.

Some patients also claim to experience pins and needles.

These sciatica-related sensations can last from days to months, depending on severity.

Symptoms of back ache may include:

  1. Muscle pains and ache
  2. Intense pain that seems sharp, shooting or stabbing-like in nature
  3. Pain and discomfort that travels down buttocks, thighs and calves
  4. You may find that your back and posture has become "stiffer and harder" than before
  5. You may find that you have difficulties in standing upright due to pain

Our senior physiotherapists would need to assess and perform differential diagnosis to find out the main cause of your back aches and pains, and this is very important because if we don't treat the main cause of the problem (and just treat the symptoms ie pain), then you will just keep coming back to us - and that's not good.

We actually want you to be able to move without pain, and engage in activities, play and work that is important and meaningful.

Pulled Lower Back /Lumbar Muscle Strains

In some cases of patients, their back aches happen because of soft tissues injuries such as ligaments and muscles that are pulled due to overly taxing the soft tissues, or awkward positions/movement (eg "waking up with neck pain").

If the back pain is lower part of the back, they are termed as "low back pain" (LBP) and can be caused by nerve inflammation or radiculopathy or other structures in the lower back.

Sciatica

Sciatica pain is a very specific nerve type of discomfort and pain because of HOW it happens. Sciatica happens when the disc of a back joint slips out to the side and compresses onto the nerve there (the sciatic nerves runs on both sides of the spinal column at our hips).

When a back injury happens, this disc at the hip level may be dislocated, slipping out and pressing onto the nerves, which can cause mild to severe pain, weaknesses, discomfort and more.

Ruptured Spinal Disc

Sometimes the spinal disc inside the spine can be inflamed and swollen, leading to muscle spasms in the back, leading to very tight back muscles.

This is a commonly experience situation for patients who experience ruptured spinal discs.

Physiotherapy for back and neck pains

Physiotherapy for a person with back aches and pains really depends on the nature of the injury (medical history), amount of pain presented (and tolerance).

We will always start with pain relief modalities such as cold therapy to decrease the spasms and inflammation, ultrasound therapy to accelerate soft tissue healing, gentle mobs to glide the joints and tissues.

Once the pain levels are lesser/tolerable, we will start to increase the mobilizations of the joints, muscles and soft tissue, to increase range and decrease pain experienced.

Then we will move onto strengthening and return back to functional movements.

Physiotherapy for back aches and pains are generally between 6-12 sessions, some needs less, some need more sessions, depending on the severity of the condition and pains.

Patients may also receive the following physiotherapy treatment modalities:



Back to Top

book an appointment today
(or check your pains / injuries)

Phoenix Rehab Physio Services

Phoenix Rehab Group works with specialist physiotherapists and rehab therapists who are highly trained, qualified, experienced and passionate to provide high level of expert care to our patients.



HAND THERAPY & CUSTOMIZED SPLINTING

Patients who sustained injuries to their elbows, forearms, hands, wrists (sprains and fractures) and fingers, usually will benefit / require Hand Therapy to

  1. manage and decrease hand pains
  2. improve range of motion, strength and dexterity
  3. increase the function of their hand following injuries or post-operations

Commonly treated hand pain injuries includes



REFORMER CLINICAL PILATES & WELLNESS PILATES

Clinical Pilates is a form of physical exercise that focuses on posture, core stability, balance, control, strength, flexibility and breathing.

It is a system of safe and effective exercises, which meet specific individual needs, to treat a wide range of injuries and conditions.

You may do Pilates as matwork or with the reformer or both, and every session will be customized 100% to your fitness, injury and tolerance.



TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)

  • Cupping TCM
  • Auricular Therapy TCM
  • Herbal TCM Medicine & Supplementation



DEEP TISSUE RELEASE & SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPY

Sports and deep tissue release massage helps to increase nutrient-rich blood flow to tired, tight and tense muscles to accelerate recovery and  shorten downtime / recovery period required.

It also prevents muscles from scar tissue micro-tears (and potential ruptures), and increases muscle performance. Having regular deep tissue and sports massage will keep your muscles healthy and fit with body/movement-confidence.

Read the benefits of regular deep tissue release therapy here.



ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

All our allied health therapists and TCM physicians are fully insured and registered with Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Board (TCMB).

See our entire team here with introductions and their specializations.

At the first session, our specialist physiotherapists will carry out a thorough assessment, helping them to select the most appropriate treatment to help you recover as well as provide treatment in the same session.

Follow up sessions are inline to provide expert treatment for your pain as well as prescribing specific exercises to reduce your risk of re-injury and giving you a long term solution.

do Tell Your Family, Friends And Colleagues About Us =)

We appreciate you as our valued clients and want you to know that the # 1 way we grow as a clinic / brand is through word of mouth referrals from valued patients like yourself.

We prefer not to rely on advertising - instead, we prefer and appreciate the goodwill and positive reinforcement from patients. When you have the chance, please tell your family, friends and physicians about the positive results and experience you have had in our physio clinics.

book an appointment today
(or check your pains / injuries)

Recent Articles

RSS

  1. Adele Ang Principal Physiotherapist Singapore

    Jun 29, 22 08:32 AM

    Adele is a registered physiotherapist with over 25 years of experience including treating national athletes as well as recreational athletes having worked in Singapore Sports Council and Singapore Spo…

    Read More

  2. Achilles Tendon Pain Physiotherapy

    Feb 03, 22 04:05 AM

    Achilles tendon pain is very common among recreational and elite sportspeople. But it is also common among sedentary individuals

    Read More

  3. Tendonitis Physiotherapy & Hand Therapy

    Feb 03, 22 12:16 AM

    Tendonitis, tendinopathy and tendinosis are all tendon injuries and treated by physiotherapists and hand therapists

    Read More

  4. Cervical Spondylosis Physiotherapy

    Jan 11, 22 02:01 AM

    Cervical spondylosis is a general term to describe the degenerative condition in the neck which results in pain and other symptoms

    Read More

  5. Tendon Pain Tendinopathy Physiotherapy

    Jan 07, 22 12:28 AM

    Tendinopathy (tendon injuries) can develop in any tendon of the body and has many names such as tendinitis and it can be treated with good tendon physiotherapy

    Read More

  6. The importance of staging and compression in tendinopathy physio

    Dec 15, 21 01:47 AM

    Tendon problems are common in runners and can become a persistent issue if not properly treated.

    Read More

  7. Tendon Pain Physiotherapy and Hand Therapy

    Dec 14, 21 11:23 PM

    Pain and pathology in a tendon, known as tendinopathy, is a common injury in athletes that can be difficult to manage. Physio and hand therapy can help healing

    Read More

  8. Tendon Injuries Physiotherapy, Hand Therapy, TCM & Massage

    Dec 07, 21 01:31 AM

    We use the world’s best tendon recovery programs through cutting edge treatment techniques for all tendon injuries (and tendon injuries differ accordingly)

    Read More

  9. Physiotherapy and Hand Therapy at Tampines Singapore

    Nov 28, 21 12:08 AM

    Phoenix Rehab Physiotherapy and Hand Therapy at Tampines Singapore

    Read More

  10. Mallet Finger Tendon Injury Rupture Hand Therapy

    Nov 17, 21 12:30 AM

    Mallet finger is an injury to the thin tendon that straightens the end joint of a finger or thumb.

    Read More