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Anterolisthesis
Anterolisthesis is a spine condition in which the upper vertebral body, the drum-shaped area in front of each vertebrae, slips forward onto the vertebra below. This is also referred to as spondylolisthesis. The symptoms of this condition can vary greatly depending if and how much the slippage pinches the nerve roots and what area is affected.
SYMPTOMS
• lower back pain
• pain increased after exercise (esp. using lumbar spine)
• hamstring tightness
• decreased range of motion in low back
• pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in legs (due to nerve compression)
• incontinence, in severe cases
How can physiotherapy help you?
Your physiotherapist will provide you with essential education regarding proper postures and what is safe and unsafe to do with your back. Core strengthening is one of the most important aspects of treatment of this injury. Manual techniques to mobilize the affected area is also important. Your physiotherapist may also use modalities like heat/ice and acupuncture to help alleviate the pain associated with this injury.
Degenerative Disc Disease
(Lumbar Spine)
Degenerative Disc Disease is considered a natural part of the aging process but this doesn’t mean you need to sit back and suffer. DDD is caused by decreasing levels of fluid in the intervertebral discs. This fluid is what keeps our discs spongey, mobile and shock absorbing. When we age and our discs “dry up”, they become stiff and are much more prone to tearing.
SYMPTOMS
• inflammatory pain (irritated nerve endings)
• mechanical pain (compression of nerve root)
• radiating pain from lower back upper back and/or arms
• muscle spasms
• persistent or lower back pain with random episodes of acute pain
How can physiotherapy help you?
Mechanical lumbar traction is a very beneficial modality with this injury. Proper core strengthening and muscular stretching is essential for long term relief of this issue. Your physiotherapist will teach you exercises for strengthening the muscles around your joints and improving your posture. They may also employ joint mobilizations to alleviate discomfort.
Herniated Disc/ Slipped Disc
Your spine is made up of 26 bones (vertebrae) which cushioned by discs. These discs protect the bones by functioning as a shock absorber during all regular, daily activities (i.e. walking, twisting, lifting). A herniated or slipped disc occurs when the inner, gelatinous portion of the disc protrudes from the tough outer shell of the disc, causing pain and discomfort. If the slipped disc compresses on one of your spinal nerves, this can also cause numbness.
SYMPTOMS
• pain and numbness, often on only one side of the body
• pain extending to your arms and legs
• increased pain after standing or sitting, when walking short distances, and at night
• sudden muscle weakness
• tingling, burning, or aching sensations in affected area
How can physiotherapy help you?
A physiotherapist will provide you with the appropriate exercises to help alleviate disc irritation and the symptoms associated with this. Lumbar mechanical traction is also an extremely helpful modality to improve symptoms. Manual therapy, including muscle energy techniques and joint mobilizations are also an essential aspect in treatment of this injury.
Lumbar Muscular Strains and Sprains
Lumbar muscular strains or sprains are colloquially referred to as a “pulled back muscle”. Sprains and strains are painful injuries which commonly occur during work or sports. A sprain occurs when a ligament in your joint is stretched or torn. A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn. The diagnosis is not heavily weighted, as the treatment for both strains and sprains are essentially the same.
SYMPTOMS OF A SPRAIN
• feeling a pop or tear in a joint at time of incident
• pain, swelling and bruising afterwards
• stiffness or instability of the joint
• redness and warmth near the injured joint
• pain alleviated by rest
SYMPTOMS OF A STRAIN
• sharp pain at the site of injury
• muscle spasms
• swelling and/or cramping
• pain alleviated by rest
How can physiotherapy help you?
Acupuncture and electroacupuncture can also quicken up healing and alleviate pain. Deep tissue massage and muscle energy techniques are also used to realign torn muscles and flush out scar tissue. Manual therapy could be indicated in certain cases.
Sciatica
Sciatica describes the symptom of of leg pain and/or numbness which originates in the lower back and travels through the buttock down the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is not a medical condition in itself; it is just the set of symptoms which could be linked to a condition such as herniated/slipped disc, Degenerative Disc Disease, or spinal stenosis.
SYMPTOMS
• constant pain in only one side of the buttock or leg (rarely in both sides)
• pain that worsens when sitting
• burning, searing, or tingling leg pain
• weakness or numbness in the leg; difficulty moving leg
• sharp pain that makes it difficult to stand or walk
How can physiotherapy help you?
The painful leg symptoms associated with Sciatica are best treated with mechanical lumbar traction. Often only a few sessions will alleviate the pain. Appropriate core strengthening, stretching, and mobilizing exercises will also be taught by the physiotherapist. Muscle energy techniques and manual joint mobilizations are also a very important aspect of treatment to help reset and re-train the musculature of the back.
Spondylosis/Back Stress Fracture
Spondylosis is a type of stress fracture in the back and is categorized as an overuse or sporting injury. It is a common source of structural back pain in children, adolescents and active adults. A back stress fracture may occur due to hyperextension or repetitive rotation in the back.
Common activities which lead to this injury include:
• gymnastics, ice skating, ballet dancing
• weightlifting, wrestling
• butterfly stroke in swimming, diving
• golfing, track and field throwers (ie. javelin)
SYMPTOMS
• spontaneous onset back pain near belt line; sharp pain at start, dulls down later
• pain worsens with arching back or standing
• pain radiating down buttocks or leg
• pain eased by rest
• exaggerated back arch and tight hamstrings
How can physiotherapy help you?
This injury is often associated with a lot of pain. Your physiotherapist with use modalities and manual therapy techniques to help alleviate this. Your physiotherapist will also teach you the appropriate core strengthening, stretching, and mobilizing exercises to help protect the affected area. Light manual lumbar traction is also often used for this injury as an effective pain reliever. |
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