Back Pain- Advice from Physis Physiotherapy Edinburgh

Back Pain Physiotherapy

Approximately 80% of the population will have one or more episodes of back pain in their lifetime. Back pain is the most common condition seen by physiotherapists at Physis.

Although often painful and disabling, back pain in most cases is not due to a serious problem. 95% of cases of acute low back pain are due to what we call mechanical or non-specific low back pain, which means that the source of the pain cannot be reliably identified. We also see many cases of back and leg pain, which is commonly called sciatica or nerve root pain, or a “trapped nerve”, and spondylolisthesis or osteoarthritis (arthritis in the spine is usually termed spondylosis by the medical profession or also known as “wear and tear”.

What can physiotherapists do to help back pain?

Evidence based research supports the use of spinal manipulation, mobilisation and massage (hands on manual therapy), exercise rehabilitation and the advice given by physiotherapists for low back pain. Classification of back pain is internationally recognised as the basis for choosing the right therapy for each patient, and the physiotherapists at Physis are the most experienced in Edinburgh at using the only reliable international classification system.

We see many patients who have chronic pain which has not resolved within normal healing times, often having had many sessions of chiropractic, osteopathic and physiotherapy treatment elsewhere. In these cases we provide a multidisciplinary biopsychosocial approach to your rehabilitation often avoiding spinal surgery and improving your chances of recovery or long term management.

The physiotherapists at physis will provide you with expert care and an explanation and understanding of your pain, not just a sheet of exercises. There are no waiting times and you can be seen at times convenient for yourself.