The optimal, evidence-based, contemporary management of lower back pain (lumbar spine pain) involves non-invasive approaches aimed at alleviating symptoms and promoting the natural recovery. This approach is often preferred as the initial strategy for treating acute or chronic lower back pain, emphasizing a comprehensive and personalized approach to address the unique needs of each patient, and one key element of conservative management is Physiotherapy.
The thorough assessment of lower back pain is a foundation skill set of all OHL Physiotherapists, and any of our Physios will help you understand the drivers of your lower back pain through hearing your story and performing a physical assessment. Lower back pain can sometimes be very specific in its pain drivers, like a fracture or a neural irritation called a radiculopathy, but lower back pain is often much more complex and requires delving into a multi-step process including a physical assessment, your medical history, your psychological history, your work, sports and hobbies, your story with exercise and movement (amongst other things) to get a full understanding of your lower back pain story. Our Physiotherapy team will talk you through the reasoning of why imaging is not routine in every client (yet it is sometimes needed and we can write an x-ray or MRI for you in these cases), and we’ll also guide you through what medication might be right for your current pain status. As you may start to appreciate, lower back pain is an umbrella term for many conditions in the lumbar spine and it is our job as Physiotherapists to provide you with a simple plan for a complex part of our body.
Physiotherapy can be helpful to the sufferers of lower back pain in many ways including:
- Exercise is Medicine and Motion is Lotion: Exercise programs tailored to strengthen core, hip and lumbar muscles, improve flexibility, and provide variability in movement options can be effective in reducing pain and preventing future episodes.
- Physiotherapists may employ manual therapy techniques such as massage and joint mobilisations to assist with return of movement and reducing pain. In an early pain episode, a Physiotherapist may also use taping strategies to unload your painful back.
- Although a longer-term pain medication plan is best discussed with your GP to determine what will be the best option for the individual, an OHL Physiotherapist can recommend some over the counter pain relieving medications to provide support to your function, sleep and your movement.
- Education and lifestyle modifications are important components of conservative management. Patients are often educated about the way activities are stressing the body and leading to irritation, and the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Weight management, smoking cessation, and stress reduction techniques contribute to better outcomes in managing low back pain.
- Psychosocial factors are also considered integral in conservative management, as emotional well-being can impact pain perception – these factors are quite broad and addressed on an individual basis and could range from financial or social stress to harmful and limiting beliefs. An OHL Physiotherapist can help link you with an appropriate mental health practitioner, because it is noted in all contemporary lower back pain literature that psychological interventions may be the missing link to successfully addressing your back pain problem in many cases. It is important to note that they are never a sole cause but can contribute to the overall problem.
In conclusion, conservative management of low back pain prioritizes non-surgical, holistic approaches to improve function and alleviate symptoms. By combining Physiotherapy, medications, lifestyle modifications, and psychosocial interventions, we aim to empower patients in effectively managing and preventing episodes of lower back pain. Please give us a call on 9431 5955 if you’d like to book in with an OHL Physiotherapist to assess your acute or chronic lower back pain, or alternatively you can book via the Client Portal on our website.
