Low Back Pain & Sciatica

This affects approximately 70 percent of the population, and many will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. The aim with a patient with LBP is to determine the location of the pain, what mechanisms flare up the pain and what factors ease the pain. It is also important to note any referred signs of pain to the buttocks and or legs. The physical signs of LBP is usually that of spasm or myofascial tightness directly adjacent to the spinal vertebral segments anywhere from the thoracic level down to the lumbo sacral level. Additional LBP symptoms includes increased tone and protective muscle spasm of the buttocks and hamstring muscles.

This in turn can trap and compress the sciatic and or spinal nerves hence reducing the nerve impulses to the muscles. This causes the muscles to become very sensitive and tender to digital (finger) pressure applied.

Treatment

LBP responds extremely well to IMS. Inserting the dry needle into the painful tender bands of the associated muscles of the erector spinae, quadratus lumborum, glute medius muscles. In addition, depending on the client’s threshold, deep tissue release is used to help separate unwanted adhesed muscle and fascial tissue. This then allows for the vertebral segments of the spine for effective mobilisation and if indicated manipulation. This is then followed up with an active and passive stretch programme to help restore and alignment and normalise muscle tone. At KCphysio clients experience pain relief and increased range of motion within the first session. Subsequent sessions give rise to further pain relief and restored function. Finally, this intervention combined with a simple home exercise programme will yield amazing results with only a handful of sessions.