Back Pain

Low Back Pain

The low back is a common source of pain. Muscles, ligaments, nerves and joints can all cause pain in the low back area. Poor posture, sudden injury and over exertion can all cause pain in the low back. A thorough assessment by a physiotherapist can determine the source of low back pain through various manual tests which examine each structure in the low back. Once the source of pain is identified then it is treated accordingly. This may include joint mobilisation, soft tissue therapy, acupuncture or exercise therapy depending on structure is at fault.

Sciatica

Sciatica often presents as pain or altered sensation running down the back of the leg, which may or may not be accompanied by back pain. Sciatica is caused by the irritation of the sciatic nerve which originates in the lower back and runs down into the legs. This irritation can stem from the joints in the low back, disc or muscle tightness. Sciatica in itself is not a diagnosesThe symptoms of sciatica can vary from a mild tightening sensation in the hamstring to a constant shooting pain down the back of the leg. Posture plays a major role in the development of sciatica. Sitting for long periods with a bent or flexed lumbar spine leads to an increase in pressure on the discs in the low back, which in turn can result in sciatic symptoms.

What we can do to help

Treatment will vary according to your specific condition. Initially a thorough examination of your problem will be made in order to determine the best approach to take with your treatment. Each client will receive a personalised treatment programme which will likely be made up from a combination of soft tissue therapy, joint mobilisation, electrotherapy, acupuncture and exercise therapy if required.