Spinal Dysfunction

The term spinal dysfunction includes conditions like prolapsed disc, joint degeneration, sciatica, referred leg pain.

Prolapsed disc commonly called “slipped” disc, is the protrusion of the pulpy inner material of an intervertebral disc. The intervertebral disc lies between two vertebra, the bones of the spine. Its function is to increase the movement of the spine and to buffer the shocks when we walks. When a disc injury occur, a prolapse can cause pressure on an adjoining nerve roots, ligaments, etc. This can irritate the sciatic nerve (or a different nerve, depending on the movement and situation) and in severe cases it may damage the nerve functions and strength of the muscles.

The condition often results from sudden twisting and bending of the spine or from lifting too much weight.

Rest lying down with bent knees on the side with a pillow between the legs is often the best thing to do in the acute phase. Ice packs can also reduce the nerve pain. Avoid twisting movements/positions, alternate rest with short active periods. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience a loss of control of the bladder or bowls.

Physiotherapy can help to ease the pressure on the nerves, to reduce muscular spasm and support the stability of the back in order to prevent relapses.

Spondylosis is another word for osteoarthritis of the spine, a condition that usually develops with age. This can be the result of normal “wear and tear” on both the soft structures and bones that make up the spine. The deterioration can also be caused by inflammation and trauma. This can lead to stiffness or too much movement (overload and instability) in some of the vertebral joints.

Physiotherapy can help to regain some movements, prevent further deterioration, and ease the irritation and pain.

Sciatica is irritation of the sciatic nerve. Pain is felt down the back and outer side of the thigh, leg and foot. This can be caused by a prolapsed disc but also by repetitive strain of the nerve (due to bad posture) or blocked facet joints in the lumbar spine.

Physiotherapy can help to identify the cause of the irritation, mobilise and regenerate the nerve, strengthen the back muscles, and teach you how to avoid movements or activities, which could lead to relapses. The use of the Back Scan will help visualise the functional movement of your spine and highlight problematic area. The scan can help the patient to understand better the cause of the problem. This usually improve the commitment to the exercises and rehab plan, leading to a faster and long lasting recover.

Referred leg pain: this can be a symptom of sciatica but can also be caused by trigger points in the gluteal region (buttocks), hip or knee joint.

The physiotherapist identifies the reason of for the pain and selects the most appropriate treatment for example deep medical massage, stretching, traction, or manual therapy.

You may find these links useful:

• https://swissphysio.co.uk/cold-weather-and-back-pain-what-to-do/
• https://swissphysio.co.uk/warm-up-exercises-at-the-desk/
• https://swissphysio.co.uk/what-we-can-do-to-ensure-we-are-fully-warmed-up-and-ready-for-exercise/
• https://swissphysio.co.uk/5-tips-to-go-back-into-fitness-after-a-holiday-break/
• https://swissphysio.co.uk/back-to-basic-with-your-back/