Back Pain is a prevalent and often debilitating condition that can arise suddenly or persist as a chronic issue1. It is characterized by a range of sensations from dull aches to sharp, piercing pains, and can also include symptoms such as limb pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling.
Causes:
Back pain is the most common pain condition experienced2, and affects approximately 9 out of 10 adults at some point in their lives. The causes of back pain are diverse and can include:
- Muscle strains and spasms
- Muscle imbalance
- Disc herniation
- Degenerative disc disease
- Trauma or fractures
- Inflammatory diseases
- Osteoarthritis
- Cancer
Treatment:
At Queen West Physiotherapy and Acupuncture, our primary goal is to achieve maximal pain reduction and restore proper function for daily activities.
We offer a range of evidence-based treatments to alleviate back pain and promote healing, including:
- Education on proper sitting postures and ergonomic seating solutions to prevent further back pain
- Modalities such as heat and ice therapy to manage pain and inflammation
- Acupuncture to target specific areas of discomfort and promote natural pain relief
- Massage therapy to reduce muscle tension and improve circulation
- Progressive stretching and strengthening exercises for targeted muscles
- Therapeutic ultrasound and electrotherapy, including Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), to stimulate tissue healing and relieve pain3
Our experienced therapists will guide patients through tailored programs designed to strengthen supporting muscles and improve overall musculoskeletal health. Additionally, self-stretches will be taught to reduce muscle tension and fatigue and provide relief from back pain.
References
- Casiano VE, Sarwan G, Dydyk AM, et al. Back Pain. [Updated 2023 Dec 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
books/NBK538173/ - The Lancet Rheumatology. (2023). The global epidemic of low back pain. The Lancet. Rheumatology, 5(6), e305–e305. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-
9913(23)00133-9 - Travers, M. J., O’Connell, N. E., Tugwell, P., Eccleston, C., & Gibson, W. (2020). Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for chronic pain: the opportunity to begin again. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 4(4), ED000139–ED000139. https://doi.org/10.1002/
14651858.ED000139