Herniated discs are a not-unusual injury that can happen to anybody. They occur when the semiliquid, gel-like center of a spinal disc presses through a weak point in the external circle of cartilage, creating a herniation. However, just what is a herniated disc? And why does it take place?
Herniated discs (e.g. cervical disc herniations, lumbar disc herniation, intervertebral disc herniation) are more common as we grow older since our discs lose moisture content as we age. They can likewise be set off by abrupt movements such as throwing or lifting heavy things, twisting quickly, or over-extending your back.
Other Reasons for Herniated Disc
- strenuous activities
- core instability
- lumbar conditions
- disc bulges
- arthritis of spine
- ruptured disc
- disc injury
- lifting injury
- athletic injury
- spinal injuries
- other minor injuries
- muscle spasms
- muscle tightness
- poor posture
- nerve compression
- compression fractures
- lifting heavy objects
- degeneration of annulus fibrosis exposing nucleus pulposus
- other degenerative conditions
- muscle strains
- mechanical pressure
If you have been experiencing back pain and are worried that you may have a herniated disc, this short article will serve to help you learn about what to expect from physiotherapy for a herniated disc and how it can help lessen your discomfort and improve your life experience.
What Common Symptoms Should You Expect From a Herniated Disc?
If you are experiencing one or more of the following signs, it is vital that you visit your medical professional to eliminate any other causes:
- Pain that shoots down your leg or in your back/legs (This discomfort is generally even worse when you’re moving around and is often referred to as a feeling of “pins and needles”.)
- Tingling, pins and needles, or weakness in the legs
- Leg pain
- Neck pain
- A feeling of heaviness or tightness in your back
- Shortness of breath
- Spontaneous pain in the back or legs
Your medical professional can assess your condition and verify whether you have a herniated disc. Your physician may prescribe an MRI or CT scan to get a better look inside your spine and verify the diagnosis.
Physiotherapy Treatment Plan for a Herniated Disc
A physical therapist will begin by gathering information about your symptoms and carrying out a comprehensive evaluation of your spine and the surrounding muscle tissues. They will also ask you about your basic wellbeing, any other signs and symptoms you might be suffering from, and your everyday life.
Although the precise procedure will vary depending on the severity of your condition, the majority of herniated discs will require a mixture of stretching and reinforcing workouts. Physiotherapy treatments are normally 1 or 2 times per week and take around 45-60 minutes per session.
How Does Physiotherapy Assist With a Herniated Disc?
Physiotherapy can help with pain relief and accelerate your recovery by integrating both hands-on treatment and exercise programs. A manual therapy treatment will concentrate on your pain and consist of methods such as joint movement, mechanical traction, spinal decompression therapy, or spinal manipulation. An exercise therapy treatment will concentrate on reinforcing your muscle tissues, improving your posture and blood flow, and decreasing your pain and impairment. Depending on your condition, your physiotherapist might recommend one or a blend of the following treatments:
Muscle-strengthening exercises. These exercises help to reinforce your core, back, and leg muscles and develop your posture. They will likewise help you to avoid extreme twisting and lifting.
Core stabilization and breathing exercises. These exercises support your core muscles during normal function and daily activities and strengthen your back, abdomen, and pelvic muscles.
Postural braces. A physiotherapist might suggest a brace to help support your back and decrease your discomfort.
Specifically-targeted workouts. These are movements that are created to help you improve your health condition. They will be customized to your condition and might include strengthening, stretching, or both.
Strengthening Exercises
Strengthening exercises for lower back muscles are important because they help prevent injury and promote good health. They can improve overall fitness and strengthen the abdominal muscles. If you want to exercise your lower back muscles, try doing the following:
Lie down on the floor on your stomach. Place both hands under your shoulders and raise yourself into a kneeling position. Keep your knees bent and hold onto something sturdy like a chair. Slowly lift your upper body off the ground and straighten your legs. Hold this position for 30 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
If you feel pain in your lower back, stop immediately. You could injure yourself.
A Few Other Therapeutic Exercises For Building Up Are:
Swimming: Swimming is an exceptionally low-impact workout that is low-risk for people with a herniated disc. Swimming can improve your mobility and range of motion while supplying a low-impact cardiovascular workout.
Pilates: Pilates is a workout system that concentrates on increasing mobility and strength in the core muscles. It is an outstanding workout to enhance posture and decrease low back pain.
Yoga: Yoga is another excellent low-impact workout that may be very helpful for people with pain in the back. It can enhance flexibility and lessen discomfort and tightness in your back.
Stretching Exercises
Stretching is an important part of physiotherapy for a herniated disc and helps to reduce your discomfort, with improved mobility and flexibility, too. A few of the most beneficial stretching workouts your physiotherapist may suggest are:
Sitting Stretch: Sit on the floor with both legs extended in front of you. Bend your right knee and place your right foot on the floor with your knee bent at ninety degrees. Put 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 surface behind your right leg. Hold this position for 10 seconds and after that switch sides.
Standing Stretch: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees and hips 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 extend your right side. Hold this position for ten seconds and after that flex your torso to the right to extend your left side.
Wall Stretch: Stand with your back against a wall and both legs extended in front of you. Bend your knees and place your hands behind your head. Push your hips toward the wall and slowly flex your knees in the direction of the floor till you sense a stretch in your lower back. Keep this position for ten seconds and then stand back up.
Conclusion
Physiotherapy is an effective treatment approach for you to return to normal activities after suffering from a herniated disc. At Pure Life Physiotherapy, our caring physiotherapists’ combination of hands-on therapy and exercise treatment can help reduce your pain and accelerate your recuperation. Depending on your condition and herniation process, your physiotherapist might suggest one or a combination of the following treatments: muscle strengthening exercises, core stability exercises, breathing workouts, gentle exercise postural braces, and specifically-targeted exercises.
Contact our experienced team today and we can schedule alleviating your herniated disc pain. Now scheduling new appointments!