Chronic Low Back Pain: Can Physical Therapy Really Help?

Chronic Low Back Pain

Back pain and related symptoms ranked amongst the second most frequent medical complaints. Disability from low back pain is second only to the common cold as a cause of lost work time and is the most common reason for disability in people under 55 years of age.

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is associated with neurochemical changes. It may start from diseases, disorders, injuries, or stresses to many different structures involving bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, nerves, or the spinal cord. 

In many instances, the injury that triggered the pain could have been healed and undetectable, but the pain may continue to stress you.

Any kind of back pain is considered chronic if it lasts for three months or longer. It may come and go, often bringing temporary relief, followed by frustration.

Causes of Chronic Back Pain

Many different theories have been trying to explain chronic pain. The exact mechanism is not yet completely understood. In common, it is considered that the nerve pathways that carry the pain signals from the nerve endings through the spinal cord and to the brain become sensitized. Sensitization of these pathways can increase the perceived pain out of proportion to the source of the pain.

Chronic Back Pain is usually age-related, but can also result from a past injury. The most common causes include:

  • Narrowing of the spinal canal leads to nerve pain
  • Disc problems, such as a herniated or bulging disk
  • The gradual thinning of the cartilage inside the spine
  • Myofascial pain syndrome—unexplained muscle pain and tenderness

How Does Physical Therapy Help?

During the examination of chronic back pain, it is essential to find out any injuries or disease processes that may place you at risk for further injury if not addressed properly. Clarification of the diagnosis is a key step in creating a pain management program. 

Good patient history and a complete physical examination by a well-trained therapist are the most vital aspects of the evaluation. Severe injuries and illnesses can often be diagnosed or ruled out based on history and physical examination alone. However, the lack of a definite diagnosis may not necessarily mean that more testing is needed. 

We at PhysioExperts always believe in combining our experience as well as a commitment which results in increased client satisfaction. We proudly provide physiotherapy treatments with an approach to professionalism.

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Just visit PhysioExperts and experience the world-class physiotherapy in Kanata.

Our team of professional therapists continuously thrive towards providing you with the best service. At PhysioExperts, you would get affordable therapists for sure.