Looking for a physio for back pain? As experienced Melbourne CBD-based physiotherapists, we offer fast relief for those with back pain – whether it’s lingered for years or come about seemingly overnight.
Affecting approximately 1 in 6 Australians and costing the Australian health system $4.8 billion per annum, back pain is a highly prevalent, complex condition that impacts productivity and quality of life. Draining and confusing, it can significantly disrupt daily activities, leading individuals to seek relief through treatments including physiotherapy.
An effective treatment option, physiotherapy offers a comprehensive approach to managing and alleviating back pain, addressing the underlying causes, improving mobility, and enhancing overall well-being. By utilising a combination of manual therapy, exercise prescription, and patient education, our skilled and caring physiotherapy team will empower you to take control of your back health and live a pain-free life.
Prolonged periods of sitting, incorrect posture and poor ergonomics are responsible for much of the back pain we see in our office-based Melbourne CBD clients. However, it can stem from myriad factors, including lifestyle choices and underlying medical conditions.
Common causes of back pain include:
Back pain isn’t constrained to professionals but is equally common among athletes and tradespeople. It can affect individuals of all ages and backgrounds, but certain factors may increase your susceptibility:
Back pain can manifest in various forms and affect different areas of the spine:
Physiotherapists spend many years studying the anatomy of the spine and its surrounding structures, as well as the way our bodies move, factors that influence pain, and how pain signals are sent between the body and the brain. A large part of our training is to keep up to date with the latest research and evidence-based practice guidelines.
As a result, physiotherapy plays a vital role in the management and treatment of back pain, offering personalised interventions to address the underlying causes and symptoms.
It can help with:
Physiotherapists employ different modalities to address back pain, including:
At The Alignment Studio, we have a multidisciplinary team of health professionals with decades of experience. Your care starts the minute you walk in the door, as our staff and facilities allow for a calming experience. We pride ourselves on taking the time to listen to our patients, as understanding what’s important to you and what’s causing your pain helps us deliver long-term impacts.
Our holistic approach and passion for helping our patients feel better and accomplish their goals reverberate through the clinic. Each practitioner has a wealth of knowledge, and we believe it important to incorporate our patients into their care – finding the most meaningful treatment plan for you. This includes teaching you about your body and its anatomy using online resources and physical models to help further understanding.
Our team regularly reviews new research and updates our skills to have you feeling better quickly. We provide you with a personalised at-home exercise program to keep you moving and pain-free.
We also have a beautiful exercise studio where our physios can guide you through exercises. It is equipped with Pilates and gym equipment to rehabilitate and challenge people with varied levels of fitness. Individual and small group Clinical Pilates and exercise sessions can also be used to aid your recovery. Together, we’ll help you return to the things you love and even work towards goals that previously might not have felt achievable.
A key to managing back pain is to ask questions, assess different movements, and find any underlying mechanisms driving an individual’s pain. At The Alignment Studio, we tailor the appointment to the individual, to improve symptoms as quickly as possible and get you back doing the things you love.
Helping our patients understand their backs and what is causing their pain is an important step. From there, we take the time to individualise a treatment approach, using a variety of hands-on therapy techniques, including soft tissue massage, trigger point release, muscle stretching, muscle activating, and joint mobilisations to settle your symptoms. These physiotherapy techniques help to relax muscles that may be sore due to overactivity or spasm.
Requiring a professional understanding of the degree of movement that occurs at every joint in the body, Joint mobilisation is a physiotherapist’s way of guiding a stiff or sore joint into its regular ranges of motion. Working at the joint level can increase the body’s larger, more global movements and decrease pain experienced while moving. Exercise has been proven to help reduce back pain and shorten its duration. Our physios take the information from their assessments and provide patients with exercises to help relieve their pain and prevent future recurrences. Combining manual therapy, education, and exercise keeps our patients pain-free and able to go about their daily lives.
Physios address back pain with a multifaceted approach, starting with a comprehensive assessment to understand the pain’s severity, causes, and aggravating factors. Treatment typically involves exercises to improve strength and flexibility, manual therapy techniques like massage and joint mobilisation, and education on posture, body mechanics and self-management techniques.
Your physio may also employ modalities such as heat or ice therapy or dry needling and provide guidance on activity modification and pain management strategies. Throughout the process, physiotherapists monitor progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed to optimise outcomes.
If there is serious pathology present, your physio may refer you to a specialist. If surgery is required, they can assist with your preparation and rehab.
Distinguishing between muscle-related and spinal-related pain can be challenging but certain signs may indicate the source. Muscle-related pain often feels like a dull ache, worsens with movement, and may be accompanied by muscle tightness or spasms. In contrast, spinal-related pain may involve sharp or shooting sensations, radiate down the legs or arms, and worsen with specific movements like bending or twisting.
Additionally, spinal-related pain may be associated with neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness in the limbs. Consulting with a physiotherapist for a thorough evaluation is essential for appropriate management.
Physical therapy can be very effective for managing back pain. Research has consistently shown that physical therapy can improve pain, function, and quality of life for sufferers. By combining an exercise program with manual therapy techniques and education, physical therapists help address the underlying causes of your pain, improve strength and flexibility, correct posture and movement patterns, and empower individuals to manage their symptoms.
However, success depends on the individual’s specific condition, adherence to the treatment plan, and collaboration between the patient and physio.
Consider seeing a physiotherapist for lower back pain in the case of:
Still unsure whether you should see a physiotherapist? Consult with your GP for personalised advice.
Whetherstruggling with acute pain from an injury or chronic low back pain, don’t hesitate to consult our friendly team. Book your physio for back pain appointment today and start your journey towards recovery!
