What is Back and Neck Pain?
Back and neck pain varies from person to person and location to location. Back and neck pain can impact both physical and mental health and is therefore important to get the right treatment.
The spine is a very complex structure made of 24 vertebrae. Between each vertebrae there are discs that act as a cartilage joint between each vertebrae and their role is to provide a cushion in the spine. On each vertebrae, there are small joints called facet joints. These allow you to move in all directions. There are various ligaments and muscles that help support and hold the spine.
Back pain can originate from any one of these structures. This is why 9 out of 10 people are diagnosed with ‘non-specific back pain’.
What about a Scan?
Scans are being used less and less by Physiotherapists as they can provide misleading information of what is causing the pain. It has been shown that many people with no back pain have degenerative changes and multiple disc bulges in their back.
What Factors Contribute to Back and Neck Pain?
+ Poor posture
+ Weakness in back, abdominal and gluteus muscles
+ Over-use of a particular activity: e.g. running, walking, gardening
+ Lack of movement: e.g. sitting while working for long peridos
+ Lack of flexibility
+ Poor movement biomechanics
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Back and Neck Pain
+ Spasm of muscles
+ Loss of movement in the spine
+ Pain with movement of the spine
+ Pain in the spine after sitting for long period’s
+ Pain in the spine after physical exertion e.g. running, lifting weights, walking
+ Pain down the arm or legs e.g. pins and needles, dull ache, throbbing, burning
What is the best treatment for chronic back and neck pain?
1) Education: This is the MOST critical and important step in treating back and neck pain. The Physiotherapist will assess your current routine and advise changes that you will need to make. This could involve doing activity, avoiding a particular activity or changing sleeping position. If you continue your normal routine this is possibly why the body is now allowing any recovery of damaged structures.
2) Exercise: Backs need too move! The Physiotherapist will guide you with specific exercises that are tailored to your symptoms. These exercises may involve flexibility, strength, motor control or be pilates based. Evidence is now suggesting strengthening exercises is much more beneficial for back pain whereas previously it was thought flexibility was most important.
3) What is the best bed choice for your back? There is no evidence to support that one bed choice is better than another. Every patient has a different source of pain, different anatomy, and different aggravating factors. However most backs require more support and stability, therefore a firmer mattress would be beneficial for this group of patients. Sleeping on your side and a pillow between the knee’s is a common easing position for back pain.