If you’re suffering from any form of back pain, you’ll know that it’s a physically tiring and emotionally draining experience. Affecting day-to-day life, it’s not uncommon for your productivity and mental well-being to take a beating as well. However, you’re not alone in this experience, with back pain being one of the most common global health issues today.
While there are several therapies for lower back pain relief treatment, osteopathy is proving to be a popular and effective avenue to explore. This holistic approach aims to heal your body through the manipulation and strengthening of your musculoskeletal structure.
Our osteopaths at The Somatic Clinic are well qualified to provide pain relief for lower back pain, muscle and joint pain, tackling chronic pain and other issues through effective osteopathic treatment.
In this blog, we will look at the various osteopathic treatments for healing lower back pain.
What are the Causes of Back Pain?
Did you know that the spine is one of the strongest and most essential organs in the human body? It consists of 24 vertebrae bones, protected by discs, and a network of strong ligaments and muscles holding them all together.
When injury, wear and tear, or infections affect this structure, it can result in inflammation and pain.
Here are some commonly known conditions causing back pain:
- Injury from an accident or a fall
- Strain or spasm of the back muscles due to lifting heavy weights, etc.
- Age-related issues such as disc wear and tear and osteoarthritis
- Sports injuries
- Chronic back pain due to poor posture
- Medical conditions or diseases such as spondylitis, back tumours, and cancer
- Lack of physical fitness
- Depression, as suggested in this study
Lower Back Pain Relief Treatments
Lower back pain relief treatment differs depending on a person’s cause and symptoms. For example, if you are otherwise healthy, but spend long hours sitting at your office desk, you can experience back pain as a result of the prolonged strain on your lower back. In that case, you need a comprehensive solution which helps you deal with back pain relief at work. Whereas, lower back pain relief for athletes may require a heavier focus on rehabilitation.
Approaches to treatment vary from person to person, but let’s explore in more detail the different types of osteopathic treatments for relief from lower back pain.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is an alternative form of treatment that targets the back muscles and tissues by stretching and massaging them. involves massaging the back muscles and tissues by pressing, stretching and keading them. Massaging therapy increases blood circulation, alleviates pain and encourages healing of the affected area. It is an effective means of lower back pain relief treatment as it gradually eliminates pain and reduces inflammation.
Trigger Point Therapy
This is also a form of massage therapy that targets the trigger point areas within the muscles. Trigger points are areas in the muscle that are vulnerable to pain and stiffness due to overuse, injury, nerve pain, inflammation or infection. Once your osteopath has identified the trigger points for your lower back pain, they will massage the area with a gentle pressure to reduce stiffness, pain and inflammation.
Articulation Therapy
This non-invasive form of therapy treats the joints, aiming to reduce stiffness and inflammation. A trained osteopath will encourage specific, slow and controlled movements of your stiff or painful joints, encouraging synovial fluid into the joint to lubricate movement.
Muscle Energy Therapy
The Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is a manual therapy aimed at improving joint and muscle function. You will be encouraged to use your muscle strength to relax and heal the muscles. Your osteopath will apply gentle isometric contractions to the affected body part, and ask you to resist the contractions, thereby promoting muscle function and healing.
Spinal Manipulation
Particularly effective for chronic pain relief, in this form of treatment, the osteopath applies calculated, controlled pressure to the joints of your spine using their hands or a device. This increases the mobility and function of muscles and joints in the spine, thus eliminating stiffness and joint pain.
Choose The Somatic Clinic to Alleviate Lower Back Pain
It is rare to find a reliable lower back pain quick fix which will give you immediate relief. However, at The Somatic Clinic, our osteopaths will expertly identify the root cause of your lower back pain and decide which form of osteopathy treatment will be most suitable for your pain. While the process takes time and commitment, it will lead to lasting relief, improving your mental and physical well-being.
In addition to therapy, we’ll encourage a balanced diet, alongside guided exercises. Your treatment plan will be completely personalised.
Dedicated to delivering holistic and comprehensive treatment, our team of nutritionists, osteopaths and personal trainers are dedicated to helping you achieve your fitness goals, encouraging balance and optimal health.
Book an appointment with us today. We will design a health and fitness plan that works for you!