Rebuild, Restore, Revive: Physiotherapy's magic touch brings movement to life.
Low Back Pain or LBP is a medical condition that effects thousands of people regardless of demographic boundaries. Although highly debilitating and tiresome, it is also highly treatable; people suffering from LBP see long-term pain relief more often than not. Some common alternative ways of treating lower back pain are osteopathy, physiotherapy, and chiropractic. In this write-up, we shall focus specifically on non-invasive physical therapy or physiotherapy methods.
1. Lifestyle Changes (sleep, diet, exercise)
Your daily routine is highly suggestive of how you treat your body and as such lays the foundation of your health-status. The established norms of getting 8 hours of sleep, maintaining a healthy diet full of vegetables and fruits, and exercising, even if it is just stretching or running, are extremely important to fulfil as they ensure that the basic needs of our body are met and our cells can regenerate the way they are meant to.
2. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a Chinese tradition of natural medicine which involves the penetration of the recipient’s skin at certain strategic points known as ‘acupoints’ to relieve neuromuscular pain, using hair-thin, solid, steel needles. An average acupuncture session lasts for around 20 minutes and around 5 sessions are generally recommended. The authentic concept behind acupuncture relies on the redirection of the body’s energy or qi.
However, treatments are specialized and tailor-made to fit the patient’s health requirements. The goal is to act on “trigger points” which restore balance to the Central Nervous System. The most common apprehension noticed in patients who want to try acupuncture is the fear of pain. However, you would be reassured to know that the prickling sensation felt during needle insertion is negligibly painful and lesser than even normal injection needles.
3. TENS
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation or TENS is a palm-held device used in physiotherapy which sends out electrical pulses to the area of the body that it’s attached to. It relieves the symptoms of pain by sparking the body’s natural defense mechanisms to pain such as the pain gate mechanism or opioid system. The electrical stimulation is done with varying intensities of voltage and duration, from mild to moderate and 5-30 minutes respectively.
4. Therapeutic Ultrasound
As opposed to electrical energy, ultrasound, as the name suggests, uses sound waves to help alleviate chronic LBP in the lumbosacral region. It differs from TENS only slightly in terms of its goal; while TENS targets pain receptors, ultrasound aims to increase blood circulation to facilitate pain relief. While you will definitely feel much better after your first ultrasound session, it takes around 3-4 sessions for the effectiveness of the treatment to be entirely apparent.
5. Exercises
Exercises are probably the most important part of your low back pain treatment in Edmonton plan that will aid in musculoskeletal adjustments. Your physiotherapist may give you a set of exercises to do diligently, varying from stretches, holds, and rotations to exercises that involve the usage of specialized equipment. Depending upon the particular kind of pain that you face, you may not be able to do certain exercises due to restricted motion; however, the physiotherapy expert guiding you shall be able to work around that.
These are few of the most commonly used methods of dealing with LBP, however, you should always consult a trained physiotherapist before embarking on any method of treatment. If you would like to try low back pain treatment in Edmonton, reach out to us at Millwoods Physical Therapy Centre for a customized treatment plan created by professional healthcare providers.
low back pain treatment in Edmonton | low back pain treatment in Edmonton
Contrary to popular belief, sciatica is not actually a disease or a specific medical condition. Instead, the word sciatica is used to describe a certain kind of pain: sciatic means hip and sciatic pain is the kind of pain which generally starts radiating from the lower back, traverses the back of the thigh, and eventually reaches the calf. The feelings associated with sciatic pain can range from a shooting pain throughout the leg, lower back pain similar to menstrual cramping, or the excruciating sensation of a pulled nerve or muscle.
Although sciatica is more or less lifelong and can get aggravated at any point of time if triggered, it is still highly manageable and a person with sciatic pain can live a long, healthy, and happy life with proper pain-management. There are however, a few things that you have to avoid in order to remain healthy if you suffer from this kind of pain. Keep reading to find out.
It is an unfortunate fact that people suffering from extreme or chronic sciatic pain are disallowed from most high-intensity workouts. The reason being, the higher the power spent on a particular exercise, the more wear and tear your body undergoes. Therefore, high-impact cardio like long-distance running, jumping rope, burpees, etc. and static positions involving holds such as planks and squats are strictly discouraged due to the kind of bodily erosion they cause, which poses the risk of further nervous damage.
In acute sciatica cases, the digestive tract might sustain some damage from continued pressure in and around the region. In situations like this, it is wise to avoid dairy, extremely cold dishes or beverages, inflammatory ingredients such as chillies, red meat, etc. as coughing and retching makes back pain worse. Moreover, since obesity is one of the leading causes of sciatica in the first place, it is heavily suggested that people going through it maintain a healthy diet which is calorie-adjusted and rich in nutrients, fibre, and protein.
When our body is sleeping, it is healing. All the injuries, harm, and damage that our body has to inevitably endure by the virtue of existence itself is resolved within us when we allow our body time to rejuvenate. Therefore, if we don’t allow it the resting time that it badly needs to return to a state of normalcy and functionality, it will not be able to provide us with the kind of support that we are used to receiving and rely on it for. Ultimately, a lack of long, restful sleep makes one’s body regress into lethargy and illness which is even more debilitating for people who already suffer from chronic pain.
Even though high-intensity exercises are discouraged and physical rest is emphasised for sciatic pain patients, a lifestyle which includes lying down, sitting, or resting for prolonged periods of time is equally harmful as the affected area does not receive proper blood circulation and becomes inflexible due to less mobility. Especially if an inactive lifestyle is combined with being overweight, it becomes increasingly difficult to go about the process of pain alleviation since added layers of fat add extra pressure on the nerves, muscles, or bones that are already damaged to begin with.
Common surgical procedures for back pain associated with herniated discs, bone fractures, ligament tears, etc. are spinal fusion surgery, microdiscectomy, lumbar disc replacement, etc. Although these surgeries are usually highly-successful, they are often necessary. Sciatica pain, even if acute or chronic, and not caused by secondary or rare medical conditions, does not typically require surgery. It should be managed as organically as possible on a day-to-day basis through activities like brisk walking, stretching your body out every morning, staying hydrated, massages, healthy eating, and deep rest, all of which help in natural pain-prevention.
When you do end up facing the occasional issue with back pain, treatments like physiotherapy, chiropractic healing techniques, acupuncture, etc have historically prove extremely efficient if performed by trained professionals. If you are looking for experts who do physiotherapy in Edmonton, Alberta, you’re in luck as Millwoods Physical Therapy Centre has skilled health experts who have years of experience in back pain and sciatic pain alleviation. Instead of ingesting bottle after bottle of pain-medicines, take the healthier route and heal naturally.
Chronic pain is one of the adults’ most prevalent causes of pain, discomfort, and inactivity. 80% of high-impact chronic pain patients are incapable of working outside their homes. Your doctor often recommends medication, but it only acts as a pain reliever. Besides having adverse medical effects, these pain relievers cannot completely cure chronic pain. An effective alternative pain management strategy is regular exercise.
Here in this informative, we will discuss about 5 effective ways to manage chronic pain without medication or invasive surgical procedures. The suggested techniques employ certain tried and tested movements and systematic exercises that work towards healing your chronic pain.
Working out regularly, especially when performed under the guidance of a skilled physiotherapist, can help you negate the painful condition you are experiencing.
Movements, in general, are exercises. Exercising regularly can be very effective in the alleviation of chronic pain. Targeting the muscle group regularly used for daily activities with exercises can be very beneficial for understanding the areas of your body that need improvement. For Instance, climbing stairs is akin to an aerobic exercise that can require lower body strength. Awareness of pain levels, shortness of breath, or the inability to perform an activity can indicate your problem area and also help in developing a treatment plan.
Integrating activity in a natural way is essential. Strength training, increasing flexibility, and improving aerobic fitness are best for relieving your chronic pain that is too much. Physical therapy and personal training will help you achieve your health and fitness goals effectively and within a short time if you are dedicated to the practices advised by your physiotherapist or health care professional. Here are 5 Tips that will help you combat chronic pain.
To improve your Chronic Pain condition, you have to embrace the movement of your body; in short, you have to exercise. Exercises and movements under the guidance of a professional physical therapist or health care provider can alleviate your chronic pain. It is a common misconception that rest will help you recover from your painful condition; rather, spending more time off your feet can be detrimental to chronic pain. Immobility of joints can also lead to conditions like frozen joint syndrome. This also goes without saying that you must not disregard the pain and start pushing through it on your own with intense activity. It is recommendable that you consult a physiotherapist who will reduce the experience of pain and discomfort by educating you on safe activities that will not worsen your condition.
Chronic Pain Management in Edmonton | Chronic Pain Management in Edmonton | Chronic Pain Management in Edmonton | Chronic Pain Management in Edmonton
Acupuncture, an age-old complementary therapy practice, involves skin penetration with metallic needles at specific points in your body. Research has shown that acupuncture is beneficial for lessening anxiety and promoting relaxation in the body. But do you know that acupuncture has sleep-inducing properties as well?
Well, everyone has insomnia from time to time! When we try to get some sleep, we end up tossing and turning for several hours. Science demonstrates that between 33% and 50% of adults in the US may experience symptoms of sleep deprivation.
We become more irritated, feel exhausted, have memory issues, and suffer in work, school, or in relationships as a result of the symptoms of sleep deprivation and insomnia. Acupuncture can help if you’re having trouble sleeping.
The hormone melatonin, which regulates our sleep and waking cycles, is produced by our bodies with the use of acupuncture treatment. This alone enhances sleep quality.
The sympathetic nervous system, which triggers our body’s fight-or-flight instincts, is also controlled by acupuncture. Controlling this encourages relaxation and enhances the quality of sleep.
Acupuncture therapy also emphasizes maintaining our general health and controlling our bodies’ physiological functions. By bringing our serotonin levels back into balance, acupuncture can help in promoting sleep. The therapy aids in mood stabilization, anxiety or stress reduction, and the development of sound sleep habits.
Better sleep quality results in better overall health. As per science, sleep is a vital bodily process that supports brain function, permits cellular repair, and is associated with positive mental health.
Acupuncture is viewed from a biological perspective as a neuromodulator, implying that it reduces the brain’s perception of sensory information, including pain.
The majority of patients begin to notice a difference in their sleep as soon as their first acupuncture session. However, long-term sleep benefits start to materialize after three to four sessions.
How frequently treatment is required can be determined by the severity of sleep problems. Depending on your specific sleep goals, appointments may be scheduled weekly, biweekly, or even once per month.
Patients who receive acupuncture report feeling more focused, creative, and less stressed because of the deep sense of calmness it induces in the body. In order to determine the number of treatment sessions that is best for you and your body, it is recommended that you work with an acupuncturist of Millwoods Physical Therapy Centre.
The following are some of the alternative methods to apply pressure to acupuncture points and improve sleep quality.