What To Expect With Physiotherapy If You Experience A Herniated Disc
A herniated disc is a common condition where the disc protrudes through a tear or hole in the protective covering around the spine (the annulus fibrosis). This causes pain down the leg and back.
A herniated disc occurs when the soft material inside the vertebrae pushes out through a tear in the annulus fibrosis. The result is pressure on nerves and blood vessels, causing pain.
There are several ways to treat a herniated disc. Physiotherapists can provide manual therapy techniques such as joint mobilization, muscle stretching, and massage. They also prescribe exercises to strengthen muscles and improve posture.
Herniated discs are more typical as we grow older because our discs lose moisture content as we age.
They can likewise be brought about by abrupt motions such as tossing or lifting heavy things, twisting rapidly, or hyperextending your back. Other causes of a disc herniation may include muscle spasms, muscle tightness, common sports injuries, scar tissue buildup, spinal stenosis, muscle overuse, muscle stiffness, disc injuries, constricted muscles, accident injury, work-related injuries, degenerative conditions, bad posture, damaged tissue, body misalignment, etc.
If you have been suffering from pain in the back and are worrying that you might have a herniated disc, this brief article will serve to help you understand what to expect from physiotherapy for a herniated disc and how it can help minimize your discomfort and improve your quality of life.
What Signs & Symptoms Should You Expect From a Herniated Disc?
The following symptoms should be ruled out by a medical professional if you have any of them:
- Pain that shoots down your leg or in your back/legs (This pain is generally even worse when you are moving around and is frequently referred to as a feeling of "pins and needles".)
- Tingling, numbness, or weakness in the legs
- A feeling of heaviness or tightness in your back
- Shortness of breath
- Spontaneous discomfort in the back or legs
Your doctor can evaluate your problem and verify whether you actually have a herniated disc. Your physician may prescribe an MRI or CT scan for a better look at your spine and to verify the medical diagnosis.
The Physiotherapy Process for a Herniated Disc
A physical therapist will begin by gathering information about your signs and symptoms and conducting a comprehensive assessment of your spinal column and the surrounding muscles. They will also ask you about your general wellbeing, any other signs and symptoms you might be suffering from, and your daily life.
Although the exact procedure will differ depending on the seriousness of your condition, the majority of herniated discs will require a mixture of stretching and reinforcing workouts. Physiotherapy treatments are usually 1 or 2 times a week and last around 45-60 minutes each.
How Does Physiotherapy Help With a Herniated Disc?
Physiotherapy can help reduce your pain and speed up your recovery by integrating both manual therapy and exercise treatment. A hands-on therapy treatment will focus on your pain and include methods such as joint mobilization or spinal manipulation. A workout therapy session will focus on strengthening your muscles, improving your posture, and minimizing your discomfort and impairment. Depending on your ailment, your physiotherapist might suggest one or a combination of the following treatments:
Muscle-strengthening exercises. These movements help strengthen your core, back, and leg muscles and improve your posture. They will also help you to prevent excessive twisting and lifting.
Core stabilizing and breathing workouts. These exercises support your core muscles during everyday activities and strengthen your back, abdominal area, and pelvic muscles.
Postural braces. A physiotherapist might suggest a brace to support your back and minimize discomfort.
Specifically-targeted workouts. These are exercises that are created to help you improve your health condition. They will be customized to your condition and may involve conditioning, stretching, or both.
Workouts designed to build up the muscles surrounding your spine and lower back are a vital part of physiotherapy for a herniated disc. They can serve to enhance your posture and lessen your pain. Your physio should provide custom strengthening exercises for your special needs.
A few other typical reinforcing exercises are:
Swimming: Swimming is an outstanding low-impact exercise that is low-risk for individuals with back pain. Swimming can enhance your flexibility and range of motion while delivering a low-impact cardiovascular exercise.
Pilates: Pilates is a workout system that concentrates on increasing mobility and strength in the core muscles. It's an exceptional workout to enhance posture and lessen low back pain.
Yoga: Yoga is another outstanding low-impact workout that can be remarkably effective for people with back pain. It can enhance mobility and diminish discomfort and stiffness in your back.
Stretching is an important part of physiotherapy for a herniated disc and helps reduce your pain and enhance your flexibility too. Some of the most helpful extending workouts your physiotherapist may suggest are:
Sitting Stretch: Sit on the floor with both legs stretched before you. Bend your right knee and place your right foot on the floor surface with your knee angled at ninety degrees. Place your left hand on the floor surface just behind your left hip for support. Twist your torso to the right and position your left hand on the floor behind your right leg. Hold this posture for 10 seconds and after that switch sides.
Standing Stretch: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Bend your hips and knees towards your torso to lower yourself into a squat position. Hold this placement for ten seconds, stand back up, and after that flex your upper body towards the left to stretch your right side. Hold this placement for ten seconds, then flex your upper body to the right to extend your left side.
Wall Stretch: Stand with your back together with a wall and both legs extended in front of you. Bend your knees and position your hands behind your head. Push your hips towards the wall and slowly flex your knees in the direction of the floor surface until you sense a stretch in your lower back. Keep this position for 10 seconds and after that stand back up.
The Bottom Line
Physiotherapy can be a helpful treatment choice for herniated discs. An individualized treatment plan with a combination of manual and exercise programs can help reduce your discomfort and accelerate your recovery.
Depending upon your disorder, your physiotherapist at Maximum Potential Physiotherapy in Calgary NW may suggest one or a combination of the following treatments: muscle strengthening exercises, core stabilization, breathing workouts, postural braces, and specifically-targeted workouts.
Contact us today and we can schedule to ease your herniated disc pain. Now booking new clients!