Osteopathy for Back Pain
On any given day one in seven Australians suffer from back pain, making it something that we have a lot of experience with at Matrix Health & Performance.
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If you're looking for effective and personalised osteopathic treatment for back pain in Ivanhoe, look no further than Matrix Health & Performance. Our experienced osteopaths are well-versed in treating various causes of back pain.
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In our experience, the most common causes of back pain are:
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Herniated Disc A herniated disc occurs when the soft, jelly-like center of a spinal disc pushes out through a tear in the outer, fibrous layer. This can cause pressure on nearby nerves, leading to pain, weakness, or numbness. Due to the areas innervated the lumbar nerves, nerve root issues in the lower back will cause symptoms in specific areas of the legs, especially below the level of the knee. The pain associated with a disc injury is often 'nervy'.
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Muscle Strain Muscle strains occur when a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn. This can happen due to overuse, poor posture, or sudden movements. Muscle strains can cause localised pain, stiffness, and difficulty moving. The pain associated is generally associated to movement and can be sharp, depending on the severity.
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Joint sprain (Facet or Sacroiliac joint): Similar to a muscle strain, joint sprains occur when a joint capsule is overstretched, compressed or otherwise irritated. The pain with joint sprain is often sharp, but localised. As with muscle strains, the pain will often cause difficulty bending and twisting.
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Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the cartilage that cushions the joints wears down over time. This can cause pain, stiffness, and limited mobility in the affected joints. Osteoarthritis is often worse in the morning or evening, or after prolonged stillness. The pain is generally a dull ache.
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There are other causes to back pain, however we find these are the most common.
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An osteopathic approach to back pain is proven scientifically! A systematic review and meta-analysis from 2005 found that osteopathic manipulative treatment "significantly reduced low back pain".
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To read about how we manage back pain, click here.
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