GeneralCan An Osteopath Help With Back Pain

Back pain can range from mild to debilitating and have a real impact on day-to-day activities. It’s a common problem too; about 4 million Australians report issues with back pain.

Can an Osteopath help with back pain? Yes! Trained to assess and diagnose a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, Osteopaths can help patients recover from muscle aches, spasms, tingling and other symptoms of back pain.

What causes back pain?

Back pain is usually experienced in the lower area of the back (called lumbago) and can involve the spinal nerves, discs, muscles, and ligaments.

Back pain may present suddenly and disappear after a few days or weeks (acute back pain) or gradually worsen and persist over time (chronic back pain).

Pain can develop in the back for any number of reasons:

• Injury
• Osteoarthritis
• Falling over (can shift the mechanics of the pelvis)
• Strained muscles
• Standing or sitting for unusually long periods
• Pregnancy
• Repeated heavy lifting

Symptoms commonly associated with back pain include:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Stiffness
• Acute pain
• Spasms
• Pain that extends from the back into the buttocks, hips, or legs

The good news is, it can be possible to recover from back pain without surgery and, in some cases, without medication.

How an Osteopath treats back pain

An Osteopath will make a thorough assessment of a client’s back pain presentation to determine the best course of treatment.

The assessment may involve various forms of orthopaedic, neurological, movement and postural testing.

The fundamental principle of Osteopathy is to treat the body as a whole. All components of the neuromusculoskeletal system (ligaments, muscles, nerves, joints) are designed to work together. If one area malfunctions or becomes damaged it can impact another part of the body.

This means an Osteopath also considers other areas of the body during the assessment – not just where the symptoms are located.

In the case of lower back pain, for example, an Osteopath may also assess and treat any knee or hip dysfunction that is contributing to the back pain.

Preventative treatment may also involve ongoing at-home exercises to strengthen core muscles or improve posture to minimise the occurrence of future back pain.

Osteopaths can use a multitude of interventions to treat and improve back pain.

Soft Tissue Massage

Soft tissue massage reinvigorates the body’s energy and releases tension and restriction in the muscles and bones.

Massage can improve overall flexibility, alleviate muscular pain, promote better circulation, encourage healing and may even contribute to better sleep.

Joint mobilisation

This technique involves applying pressure over a painful or stiff or painful joint with the outcome to improve the range of motion and reduce pain.

Functional dry needling

Lower back pain can result in tightness deep within the muscles. Dry needling involves inserting a needle (similar to those used in acupuncture) into the muscle to reduce tension and spasms. This technique allows for deeper access to the muscle than soft tissue massage.

Research has shown that dry needling is more effective for alleviating pain and disability at post-intervention in lower back pain than acupuncture and sham needling.

HVLA or manipulation

High-velocity low amplitude (HVLA) places a joint under tension in a specific position. A controlled force is then applied to the area to create cavitation – the “popping” noise which indicates the separation of the surfaces of a synovial joint leading to a reduction in joint pressure.

Stretching

A stretching routine can help prevent back pain by encouraging a normal range of motion in the joints. Stretching increases muscle flexibility and length, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue.

Taping

Various taping techniques using Kinesiology tape can help alleviate lower and middle back pain, reduce inflammation, and facilitate muscle motion.

Counterstrain

The counterstrain technique is used to identify painful and contracted tissues. It is a gentle technique which makes it a viable choice for extremely painful lower back issues.

Lymphatic pump techniques

A sluggish lymphatic system can lead to a range of health issues. Lymphatic pump techniques aim to release any blockages and get lymphatic fluid moving freely again. An Osteopath will use light, manual movements around the pain point or related area to promote the movement of the fluid.

To complement the hands-on treatment they provide, an Osteopath may also prescribe an at-home exercise routine and ergonomic advice to speed up recovery and prevent a relapse.

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