Aching back or neck? Most of us will suffer from this at some stage in our lives – our Physiotherapists are highly experienced in the assessment, diagnoses and advanced treatment of back and neck pain.

Did your pain start when you were bending or twisting, or has it just built up gradually while you’ve been busy at work or study? Does your pain keep coming back? Recurring pain is very common – recent research has shown that without specific treatment, the supporting muscles that protect your back may not work properly even after your pain subsides.

Your physiotherapist will thoroughly examine your spine by discussing your history, testing your movement and by palpating your joints and muscles.

Common Conditions

There are a number of common causes of neck and back pain. Determining your specific diagnosis is crucial to instigating the right rehabilitation program, preventing future episodes of back pain. Common back and neck conditions include:

• injury to intervertebral discs
• irritation of your spinal nerves causing referred pain and weakness
• injury to a spinal facet joint (small joints between vertebrae)
• whiplash
• wry neck
• headaches
• arthritis
• postural neck or back pain
• sciatica
• sacroiliac joint (SIJ) disorders

Treatment

An individually tailored and comprehensive treatment plan is key to both treating your pain and reducing the risk of future occurrences. Key elements of your treatment at Active Rehab may include:

• hands-on mobilisation of spinal joints to relieve pain and stiff joints
• massage and soft tissue release to relieve pain and stretch tight muscles
• acupuncture and dry needling to release muscle tension
• taping to limit movement or provide additional support
• postural correction to reduce strain on your injury
• specific advice to help you continue your regular activities while protecting your healing spine
• real-time ultrasound to help you learn to ‘switch on’ the supporting muscles of your spine
• individualised exercise and Pilates programs to build your core stability
• education and exercise progression to help you return to full activity and reduce the risk of a future injury