Osteopath for back pain
When to see an osteopath for back pain?
Whether it’s acute back pain, chronic complaints, a herniated disc, or osteoarthritis: An osteopath can often help reduce pain and promote recovery. When back pain doesn’t resolve on its own or keeps recurring, there’s usually an underlying cause. As an osteopath for back pain, I conduct extensive examinations and tests, looking not only at the painful area but at the entire body. This way, we identify the true cause, which can then be treated specifically. Even with acute complaints, improvement is often noticeable quickly.
Back pain as part of the chain
Lower back pain is among the most common reasons people seek treatment. It often arises suddenly, for example, when bending over or lifting. However, an underlying imbalance has usually been present for a longer time. The back unknowingly compensates for tensions or restrictions elsewhere in the body, such as in the abdomen, feet, hips, or pelvis.
chronic back complaints: not always damage, but imbalance
Many people with long-term back pain think that something is “broken” in their back, such as a hernia or wear and tear. However, scientific research shows that such abnormalities on an MRI are just as common in people without complaints.
Chronic back pain is therefore often not the result of structural damage, but of a disturbed movement pattern. This usually arises because the back compensates for problems elsewhere in the body for a long time. As a result, the nervous system continuously receives the signal that threatening damage may occur, and protects the area with muscle tension, inhibition of muscle strength and pain.
Approach
Osteopath for back pain
Investigation into the cause
I look at the entire movement chain (back, pelvis, hips, abdomen, feet, upper back and neck) to discover which areas contribute to the back complaints.
Restoring mobility
With mobilization techniques, I improve the function of the joints and bring them – where necessary – into an optimal position. This allows the back to move more smoothly and reduces the load.
Restoring muscle balance
Overactive muscles are relaxed and inhibited muscles are activated, so that stability, strength and freedom of movement return.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM OSTEOPATHY FOR BACK PAIN?
Even with chronic back pain, I often see good results. With the right stimulus, you often notice an improvement in posture, movement, and pain level after just one treatment. As soon as the threat to the body decreases, the muscles relax, the strength increases, and the pain diminishes.
Herniated disc: what can an osteopath do?
Typical complaints with a lumbar hernia are radiating pain in one leg, numbness, tingling or loss of strength, often in combination with lower back pain.
A hernia occurs when an intervertebral disc bulges and presses on a nerve. However, I often see that it is not the disc itself, but a swelling or inflammatory reaction around the spine that exerts pressure on the nerve. This swelling can increase or decrease depending on the load during the day, which explains why the complaints are sometimes variably present.
This type of complaint often responds well to osteopathy. You will often experience improvement after just one to two treatments, and in many cases the problem is largely resolved after four to five treatments.
My approach as an osteopath for a herniated disc
As with other back complaints, I focus not only on the location of the pain, but especially on the underlying causes that have led to irritation of the nerve.
I also treat the region around the hernia with gentle techniques that should not cause pain. Together we look for the right corrections. We usually find a position or technique that provides immediate relief – an important signal that we are on the right track.
recovery and result
For back complaints with radiation, recovery usually takes two to three times longer than for back complaints without radiation. You will often notice improvement after two treatments and an average of four to six treatments are needed to completely resolve the complaint.
do not let back pain determine your daily life
Even if you have already tried everything, there is often still something to be gained as soon as the body receives the right stimulus. Back pain does not have to remain part of your daily life.
Curious about what I, as an osteopath, can do for your back pain? Make an appointment or contact us for more information.