Back pain is one of the most common types of body pains, and chances are that you will experience some form of back pain in your lifetime. Statistically speaking, over 80% of adults experience some form of back pain. Depending on the severity of your pain, the side effects range from discomfort to loss of productivity and can even lower your standard of living. Luckily there are many over-the-counter medications you can take to help ease your mild to moderate back pains and prescription medication for more severe issues. When it comes to over the counter medications, it is not a one pill cures all approach. There is a possibility of choosing the wrong type of back pain medication, which could lead to ineffective treatment and possible complications.  

To avoid choosing the incorrect medication, you should familiarize yourself with the 5 most common types of back pain. Below we have highlighted each type.

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is by far the most common type of back pain. It is caused by sustaining an injury to the muscles or ligament around your lower back. Individuals that constantly lift heavy items for work, or standing for prolonged periods of time tend to suffer from lower back pains. This is normally caused by improper lifting techniques and poor posture. If you fall into this category, we suggest scheduling regular sessions with a physiotherapist, to help strengthen your lower back muscles and work on proper techniques for lifting and standing comfortably.

Inflammatory Back Pain

Inflammatory back pain is caused by inflammation in the spinal joints. A potential cause of inflammation in between your joints is ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis that leads to back stiffness. Even though ankylosing spondylitis isn’t extremely common, it can affect individuals of all ages from adolescents to adults. It is also known to affect males two to three times more than females.

Neurogenic Claudication

Neurogenic Claudication is a type of back pain that affects older individuals. This type of back pain is mostly felt when walking or standing. This could slow a person’s walking pace or reduce how long one is able to stand. Physiotherapists suggest that those with neurogenic claudication should sit and rest for regular intervals to alleviate the pain.

Static Back Pain

Static back pain, also known as Sciatica usually affects your lower back, buttocks, and even your legs. This type of back pain usually starts with a herniated disk in your lumbar. Because the pain spreads out the nervous system surrounding the herniated disk, it is quite often difficult to pinpoint where it is originating and can be misdiagnosed.

Abrupt Back Pain

Sometimes you can’t tell why your back is hurting and even where the pain came from. You can just wake up in the morning, after a good night’s rest, and you are greeted with back pain. This exact scenario is common and experienced more as you age. Scheduling a few physiotherapy sessions will help alleviate the pain, and help with building a regiment to reduce these flare-ups from happening. 

Back pain could be caused by a number of reasons and can be treated in different ways. A quick Google search proves this. However, booking regular sessions with a physical therapist will help with not only relieving your current pain but with building a routine that will help prevent these pains from coming back in the future.

If you’re interested in physiotherapy, you most likely look forward to some advice on how to find the right physiotherapist. And since we’re here to help you, we asked our trained professionals for some advice you could use. Read this article to explore the best approach to choosing a physiotherapist based on your needs and expectations.

Does the physiotherapist have accreditation and qualifications?

The first question you can ask about physiotherapy is whether your physiotherapist has accreditation and recommended qualifications. For a professional to offer qualitative physiotherapy programs, they must graduate an accredited physiotherapy program and register with the College of Physical Therapists and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.

Does the physiotherapist have specialty training?

A professional and well-educated physiotherapist never stops learning. And this means that if you aim to find the right physiotherapist, you’ll want to look for someone who’s continuously involved in training for different specialties. Hence, you should choose a professional trained for the needs you have, such as pelvic floor rehabilitation, orthopedics, or pregnancy physiotherapy.

What are the treatment approaches?

You might think that each physiotherapy clinic has the same treatment methods. But this is a false statement! Physiotherapy is all about implementing distinct treatment approaches and using specific equipment for each patient based on individual needs. This might include acupuncture, massage, electrical therapy, or even gymnastics.

Why is the personality key to finding the right physiotherapist?

Well, after all, you’ll be working with your physiotherapist on a long-term approach. So, this means that if you aim to find the right physiotherapist, it might be a good idea to choose someone you are comfortable with. Going for an initial consultation can offer insights on whether you’ll feel relaxed with a specialist or not.

Which is the best atmosphere?

Physiotherapy can turn out to be a sensitive topic for many of us. Maybe we have a health issue we feel like it makes us look embarrassing. Or merely we look forward to an individual physiotherapy session. No matter your expectations, it might be a good idea to choose a physiotherapist who focuses on your well-being and makes you feel comfortable while getting your treatment.

What are the testimonials for a specific physiotherapist?

If you’re having a hard time deciding which professional to choose, it can help check their testimonials. Patients’ reviews can tell you a lot about how someone felt while getting treatment from a physiotherapist. And this can help you determine whether it will be the right fit for you.

The bottom line

If you’re looking for physiotherapists near you, it is best to start the search by looking for a trained professional. Also, choosing the right specialty for your condition is key to achieving the best results. Make sure you check patients’ testimonials and ask your physiotherapist all the questions you need at the initial consultation.

Many individuals suffer and regularly experience foot pain. If your feet are aching especially when standing, walking, or running, you may want to consider custom orthotics. Foot alignment is important to your health and well-being since your feet are foundations that provide strength and stability to the rest of the body.

Orthotics are special foot cushions that are designed for fixing all sorts of pains. Whether you have chronic pain or you are experiencing aches as you walk, orthotics can be the short-term or long-term solutions that you need. Even if you are feeling some pains, you may be uncertain whether you need orthotics or not. Given this, there are the signs that are telling you that you need orthotics.

You have several treatment options when it comes to treating carpal tunnel syndrome. One thing you should also have in mind is that the treatment option that worked for your neighbour may not work for you. You may have to consider diverse treatment options to get the relief you desire.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome is a disorder that affects the jaw muscles and nerves. TMJ is a result of injury or inflammation to the TMJ. The temporomandibular joint is located somewhere in the jawbone; it is that joint that merges the jawbone and the skull.

Having back pain can be such a nasty experience. Most of us must have gone through it before. In fact, based on medical research, four out of five persons will experience it at one point or the other in life. There are several ways back pain manifests. It can come in the form of a persistent and dull ache or a sharp and sudden pain.

Whether young or old, male or female, everyone needs physical therapy. This is particularly so if you are affected by any form of physical illness or condition that hinders your ability to move around and function normally. It is a conservative approach towards managing problems that can take you back to the long-gone days of physical wellness prior to being struck by a physical condition or disease. Indeed, the importance of customized physical therapy is comprehensive and it comes in several ways.

One of the most frequent issues patients complain about is neck pain. And this can be a result of several causes, including bad posture. Read on to find out all you need to know about neck pain and treatments.

What are the leading causes and symptoms of neck pain?

Many people believe that physiotherapy is all about treating sports-related injuries. But did you know that a physiotherapist can help you manage all sorts of conditions? Well, seeing a physiotherapist can boost your rehabilitation process and prevent additional injuries. And if you are not sure if you need an appointment with such a specialist, read on to discover the major signs that tell you should see a physiotherapist.