At Bodyactive, we regularly see clients who have ‘strained their back’.
They are usually in a lot of pain, feel very stiff across the lower back, which may be felt more on one side than the other, have trouble walking and bending and can have pain radiating through the top of one leg.
The most common cause of this type of pain and stiffness is facet joint strain.
This acute type of back pain may begin after doing a deadlift incorrectly, moving or lifting a heavy object or simply bending down to pick something up off the floor.
Facet joints are the small joints between the vertebrae in your lower back.
These joints help to stabilise the spine, allowing it to bend and twist but not to go too far. Nerves pass through these joints to go to all parts of the body.
If you have lifted incorrectly, bent over in a certain way or put too much
pressure on your back, one of these small joints may be strained and become inflamed, producing pain. The muscles around the joint tighten as a protection against further damage, so your back becomes stiff.
The good news is that facet joint strain can be easily managed with Osteopathic treatment, remedial massage and Acupuncture.
Acupuncture has been proven to be beneficial for pain relief and can reduce inflammation and promote healing to the danmaged area.
Remedial massage can help to reduce stiffness and increase blood flow to the area.
Osteopathic treatment focuses on soft tissue mobilization and manipulation to reduce muscle spams, decrease pain and improve range of motion.
Your therapist will also guide you through the use of hot and cold packs and other self help methods you can do to reduce pain and speed recovery.
With prompt treatment we can quickly get you back to your normal active self.