Conditions: Lower Back Pain

Do you suffer from disc injuries?

Location: The pain is usually central in the lower back and can radiate across the entire lower back and down into the legs.

Causes: Excessive, prolonged or forceful bending forward, sitting down and lifting (especially involving twisting).

Contributing Factors: Poor posture, a sedentary lifestyle, poor core stability, muscle weakness or tightness, poor lifting technique, being overweight, a lifestyle involving large amounts of sitting, bending or lifting

Signs and Symptoms: Symptoms are felt either centrally or on either side of the spine and they often begin during a causative action. Following activity the joints may be stiff and painful. Additional symptoms include; muscle spasms, pins and needles, numbness, muscle weakness and pain in the buttock or lower limb region. Symptoms are usually worse in the mornings and during coughing, sneezing or twisting.

What to do if you think you have a disc injury: In the past ‘bed rest’ was prescribed for disc injuries but recent research findings has found this can actually make the problem worse. It is important to see your physiotherapist early to get the injury treated and so you are given appropriate exercises that encourage quick and effective healing.

Physiotherapy Treatment includes:
  • Soft tissue massage
  • Mobilisations
  • Tractions
  • Biomechanical correction
  • Dry Needling
  • Clinical Pilates
  • Exercise Prescription
  • Lumbar taping
back pain
What are Facet Joints?

Facet joints are located on either side of the spine. Their job is to support body weight and enable spinal movement.

How do they contribute to Pain?

Facet joints can be put under stress and injured by excessive bending of the spine and lifting or twisting movements. Injuries from fast joints can be acute (short term or new injuries due to an excessive movement) or chronic (occurring over along period of time due to the continual misuse or overuse of the spine).

Contributing Factors: Poor posture, lumbar spine stiffness, a sedentary lifestyle, poor core stability, muscle weakness or tightness, muscle imbalances, inappropriate lifting technique, being overweight, biomechanical abnormalities, a lifestyle involving large amounts of sitting, bending or lifting.

How to know if you have facet joint pain

Signs and Symptoms: Symptoms are felt on the side of the spine and they often begin during a causative action. Following activity the joints may be stiff and painful. Additional symptoms include; muscle spasm near the joint and pain in the buttock or lower limb region.

Physiotherapy treatment is effective to reduce facet pain and to restore normal movement back to the spine.

Physiotherapy Treatment includes:
  • Mobilisations
  • Manipulations
  • Soft tissue massage
  • Dry Needling
  • Postural Taping
  • Exercise Prescription