Lumbar Spondylosis
With the epidemic, we’ve all been exposed to a new way of life: working from home and learning from home. While it was a terrific approach to get things running in Covid times from a technical and technological standpoint, one thing that is troubling us all separate from this Covid is the recent backache troubles people have experienced.
This has become a part of our everyday routines as a result of poor sitting postures and poor ergonomics. It’s one of the most frequent issues that can no longer be overlooked.
Do you know that almost 60% of the Indian population will have back discomfort at some point in their lives? Previously, it was thought that spinal degeneration happens with age, resulting in wear and tear.
Etiology:
In layman’s terms, we commonly refer to age-related degenerative changes in our spine and other key joints such as knees, shoulders, and so on. Wear and tear on the spine causes disc herniation, which acts as a cushion or balloon, preventing two intervertebral bodies from colliding.
When a disc herniates, it causes pain and discomfort by impinging on the surrounding muscles and nerves. Furthermore, repetitive movements cause intervertebral bodies to clash, resulting in the production of osteophytes or bony prominences, which impinge on nerves, causing numbness, tingling, or paraesthesia.
Clinical Significance:
Patients typically complain of pain in the lower back, spreading to the buttocks or legs. Following are the common clinical symptoms:
- Pain- which may vary from mild discomfort to severe pain hampering the quality of life.
- Radiculopathy
- Motor weakness
- Altered sensation
- Bowel and bladder issues
- Difficulty walking or getting up
- Pain disturbing activities of daily living.
Treatment:
One thing we must be certain of is that we cannot undo the damage that has already been done. The only way to alleviate the symptoms and live a pain-free life is to stop the progression. Depending on the clinic presentation, treatment may differ:
Surgical procedure: If the patient is experiencing severe pain or motor weakness, as well as related bowl or bladder dysfunction, surgery is the best immediate treatment.
Non-surgical treatment: Nonsurgical therapies such as manipulation, intervertebral injections, physical therapy, posture modification, and chiropractic interventions can usually heal lumbar spondylosis.
Why should you select physiotherapy over other treatments?
If you’ve been diagnosed with a back problem, physiotherapy is highly important. It is one of the most effective nonsurgical therapies for improving prognosis and speeding up recovery. Always explore the comprehensive approach of physiotherapy in treating lower back pain before diving into the possibility of surgery.
A physiotherapist will not only assess and treat your back pain, but will also help you improve your discomfort, posture, and core musculature. As you get older, your degeneration will accelerate, affecting your daily activities, work performance, and overall quality of life. We will never be able to stop the deterioration.
What is the role of a physiotherapist?
You can conduct the exercises in the privacy, safety, and comfort of your own home with complete physiotherapy treatment regimens. Our RELEVIUM physiotherapist will walk you through the following protocol:
Physical examination: The physiotherapist will examine your spine first to determine the biomechanics of your pain. They will need to know your job routines, posture, and work ergonomics in order to develop your therapy regimen.
1. Check for tenderness, swelling, or bone deformities with palpitation.
2. Movement- to determine which movements trigger pain. In most cases, flexion or forward bending of the spine causes discomfort, whereas extension or back bending soothes it.
3. Motor weakness: The physio will ask the patient to perform certain movements such as straight leg raises, walking on their toes, or walking on their heels to check for muscle weakness.
4. Sensory examination- Last but not least, checking sensations, numbness, and reflexes is part of the investigation.
Protocol for treatment:
Patient education: patient education is one of the most critical aspects of any physiotherapy rehabilitation programme. It is critical for the patient to comprehend the underlying illness and how it may affect their life in the long term if not addressed.
• Exercises for muscle strengthening: Your physiotherapist will offer you a set of exercises to assist you strengthen your muscles and improve your general back and core stability. To improve the para spinal musculature, one must adhere to the rehab regimen diligently.
Stretching exercises: in addition to strengthening the weak musculature around the spine, stretching the tight muscles of the opposing muscle group is also significant.
• Hot and cold therapy: Heat therapy relieves pain by boosting blood circulation in the affected area. By supplying more oxygen to the damaged muscles, improved blood circulation aids in the removal of toxins that have accumulated around the areas. Cryotherapy, or cold therapy, on the other hand, helps to reduce inflammation linked with pain, allowing the patient to feel better and continue with their workout routine.
• Electrical stimulation: Using a low to medium frequency electric current to stimulate blood circulation and remove toxic blood may help improve blood circulation and remove toxic blood as oxygen levels rise with fresh blood input. It also helps to relieve oedema and spasms in the para spinal musculature.
• Posture correction: a weak core is a major contributor to back-related muscle issues, which must be addressed first.
• Ergonomics: Adequate ergonomic measures are required at every job and should be taken seriously in our new corporate lifestyle.
Message to take home:
Don’t treat your back problem so lightly that you end up on the wrong side of the law. A better prognosis is achieved when back problems are diagnosed early. Make an appointment with RELEVIUM today to have yourself checked at home by a skilled and experienced physiotherapist. Stay tuned for more health blog updates, and best of luck with your recovery.
