Head, Neck And Back
At Delta Physio, we specialise in treating a wide range of head, neck & back problems through physiotherapy. From headaches to sciatica, we are well-versed in finding the most appropriate treatment methods.
What head, neck & back problems do you treat?
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Neck Pain
Neck pain is caused by several factors, and it’s estimated that up to 70% of people will experience neck pain in their lifetime, with 10-20% experiencing an episode within the last 6 months.
Most neck complaints have a similar source of pain as that of lower back problems – joints/muscles/tendons/ligaments/spinal discs. In our experience, neck injuries do seem to cause higher levels of pain despite the injury not usually being severe.
You may also be more likely to have pain into an arm, or pins and needles in your hand. This is due to the proximity of the nerves to the site of injury in the spine, and pain can ‘radiate’ away from the source of the actual problem.
The good news is that in most cases, appropriate physiotherapy and self-management will resolve your symptoms. Treatments involve manual therapy, massage, traction of the spine, acupuncture, advice & education, and home exercises.
In the few cases where physiotherapy wouldn’t be indicated, you will be referred to your GP or to a specialist for further assessment.
Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain (LBP) is easily the most common ailment we see in the clinic and it’s prevalent throughout the world. It’s estimated that it accounts for 11% of the total disability of the UK population, with 1 in 15 people per year seeking help from their GP.
Most of these patients will be diagnosed with ‘non-specific lower back pain’ or NSLBP for short. All this means is that we can’t be sure of the exact cause of the patient’s pain. This is because there are a number of structures in the back where pain is felt, such as spinal discs, joints, nerves, muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments.
NSLBP tends to be divided into 3 groups:
Acute:
Symptoms last from a few days to a few weeks, and are often resolved with self-management and physiotherapy
Subacute:
Symptoms last roughly from 4-12 weeks.
Chronic (persistent):
Symptoms lasting longer than 3 months, and may be episodic over time
At Delta, we use a number of treatments to alleviate your lower back symptoms including manual therapy (manipulation & mobilisation), massage, Pilates, exercise rehabilitation, heat, and in some cases acupuncture.
For more information on the kind of spinal conditions we treat, contact us today.
Sciatica
Sciatica is one of the few medical terms that most of the public understand and can relate to. Sciatica in its truest form is a sharp, lancinating pain that originates in the buttocks and can travel directly down the back of the leg to the ankle.
The pain follows the course of the sciatic nerve, which starts in the buttock region and descends the back of the thigh where it splits and continues further into the calf region and the ankle.
The important thing to remember here is that in most cases the nerve itself is not the original cause of the pain. The likely culprit will be in the region of the lower back, where the nerves exit the spinal column and begin their journey into the leg.
- Lower back pain
- Pins and needles
- Numbness in certain parts of the leg
- Weakness in the muscles of the foot or leg
Sciatica is one of the more common complaints we treat here at Delta, and treatment involve spinal mobilisations/manipulations, heat, massage, acupuncture, advice/education and home exercises.
Your doctor may prescribe strong painkillers to help reduce your pain, and in some cases prescribe medication that helps to reduce muscle spasm (diazepam), nerve pain (pregabalin, amitriptyline), and inflammation (naproxen).
Whiplash
Whiplash is an umbrella term, describing the injuries and symptoms usually associated with a low-speed car accident. It could also be termed an ‘acceleration-deceleration’ injury. For example, when a car is shunted from behind, the person is initially accelerated forward momentarily, then decelerated by the seatbelt.
In this regard, you could experience a whiplash-type injury by falling off a horse. You accelerate towards to the ground, then decelerate when you hit the floor.
The injuries & symptoms associated with whiplash are neck pain, upper back pain, arm and shoulder pain, soft tissue injuries, headaches, pins and needles, loss of concentration, and sleep disturbance amongst others.
Whiplash can also affect a person psychologically; people may become fearful when driving or their mood may change. These problems can make whiplash quite a complex set of problems to address.
The natural instinct is to avoid movement which makes the pain worse. However, this approach is likely to prolonged or worsen your pain. Regular pain relief and keeping the affected parts moving is highly recommended. Heat can provide relief to soothe injured muscles and joints.
Early intervention with physiotherapy helps to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms, along with reassurance that the injured party is likely to get significantly better. Symptoms can last several months, but with appropriate treatment and self-management you can be in control of your pain.
Headaches
Headaches can be quite commonplace in the physiotherapy environment and, as with other conditions, can be due to different factors.
The most common type of headache we see in clinic is cervicogenic, which means the pain is coming from structures in the neck – such as joints, discs, ligaments, nerves etc. Cervicogenic headaches are especially common in a whiplash accident.
Providing any serious cause of the pain has been ruled out, headaches can respond well to physiotherapy treatments, which includes:
- Joint mobilisations
- Acupuncture
- Soft tissue massage
- Home exercises
Spondylosis
Spondylosis is an umbrella term that refers to normal, age-related degenerative changes of the spine. It may also be used when referring to arthritis in the spine, and other conditions in the area. This includes spinal stenosis or degenerative disc disease, both of which can cause pain in the upper and lower body.
Spondylosis is a common condition that may occur as you get older and the discs in the spine are worn done. As we age the discs can dehydrate and lose the shock absorbing qualities that keep extra pressure off the vertebrae.
There are a range of treatment methods for spondylosis, including:
- Physiotherapy – Movement exercises, massages, strength training
- Pain medication and anti-inflammatory drugs
- Radiofrequency ablation – A treatment that involves radio waves to disable nerves from transmitting pain signals to the brain
- Hydrotherapy
