Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons for seeing a physiotherapist. At MozgásKlinika Retek utca, in Budapest’s 2nd district, both physiotherapists list spinal complaints among their areas of interest. This article shows how the clinic thinks about lower back pain. It does not replace an examination.
Why is there no single cause?
Several functional problems can lie behind lower back pain. Pain depends on many factors: the condition of the tissues, the load, how varied your movement is and how much load you can tolerate can all play a part. The first step is therefore to understand what is limiting your movement and your load tolerance.
It follows that there is no set of “five exercises for back pain” that suits everyone. The same symptom can appear alongside different problems, and what helps one person may not be right for another.
What happens at the examination?
The first assessment lasts 60 minutes. The physiotherapist talks through your complaints and earlier injuries, looks at your findings, then carries out a physical examination and a posture analysis. If you have earlier imaging reports, bring them with you.
After the examination you are told which treatments are recommended, and therapy starts in the same session.
Which treatments may be used?
- Manual therapy: hands-on techniques to release joint restrictions and increase range of motion.
- Physiotherapy: personalised exercises to strengthen and stretch muscles and to improve movement patterns.
- Combined therapy: both in one session, complemented by physical therapy where needed.
The plan follows the levels of the MozgásPiramis®: after treating the pain come range of motion, strength, stability and load tolerance.
What if the pain has already eased?
The aim is more than being pain-free. According to the clinic, regular exercise and manual therapy increase the load tolerance of muscles and joints, which may lower the chance of the complaints coming back. The article on staying active after treatment covers this.
Where can you read more?
If your complaint is linked to a herniated disc, the article on conservative treatment of a herniated disc may also be useful. Prices are on the prices page.
