What is Plantar Fasciopathy & how do I get better?

 

·       Are you suffering from a sharp and achy pain under the heel of the foot, often worse when walking barefoot?

·       Are you experiencing pain in prolonged standing, or difficulty walking/running long distances?

·       Pain that is worse in the morning when taking the first few steps out of bed or after a long period of rest?

You are likely experiencing Plantar Fasciopathy.

The plantar fascia is a tough fibrous tissue that runs under your foot to serve as load distribution and maintaining stability when we are walking or running. The pain can be acute or chronic, meaning it can have come on suddenly or you may have been experiencing this for months. This can be a debilitating condition affecting up to 10-15% of the population in all ages, but is most commonly experienced in the female population aged 40-60 years.

Unfortunately plantar fasciopathy can last up to or greater than 6 months….although the good news is that approximately 90% of cases are treated successfully with conservative care and physiotherapeutic rehabilitation (which means using non-invasive techniques). Your physiotherapist can help guide you through your journey to optimise a safe return to your daily activities and return to sport.

Rest - As physiotherapists, when we talk about ‘rest’, we do not mean sitting down for a week as this can lead to a poorer outcome. What we actually mean is rest from the aggravating activity, for example, reducing your standing time or holding off running for 2 weeks. We always work closely with you to get back to your goals.

Ice – this is a quick and cost-effective way to help reduce acute pain. Evidence suggests ice is an effective treatment therapy for short-term pain relief.

Taping - taping assists with passive mechanical arch support and has been found to be effective in the short term. Evidence also suggests taping can be more effective in reducing pain when combined with stretching.

Soft Tissue Release - this can be performed by your physiotherapist and we can teach you techniques that you can perform at home using a trigger release ball. We often advise our clients to place a bottle of water in the freezer to help reduce pain with self-massage. No studies have proven its effectiveness; however, physiotherapists and patients have reported good clinical feedback.

Stretching – this treatment is evidence based, cost-free and can be done from the comfort of your own home. Short calf muscles have been shown to be a predisposing factor for getting pain in the first place, so it is important to address this issue. Evidence recommends a minimum of 3 times a day with at least 10 repetitions of each stretch, held for 10 to 30 seconds.

Strength Training - this is a longer-term preventative treatment strategy. Strengthening the structures around the foot and ankle will help support the joint and improve your functional movements.

Proprioceptive exercises – when suffering from a foot injury it is important to re-educate the body’s ability to balance, improve coordination and agility.

Addressing your Risk Factors - this is a really important one and can include obesity, standing for long periods on hard surfaces, poor foot biomechanics, poor shoe fitting, age and sex. It is not possible to address your age and sex, however you can make changes to your weight, your standing habits and foot biomechanics with appropriate training.

Berbrayer, D. and Fredericson, M. (2014). Update on Evidence-Based Treatments for Plantar Fasciopathy. PM&R, 6(2), pp.159-169.

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3 More Mistakes that Can Worsen Your Back Pain

A persistent back ache can severely affect your lifestyle. Although the best way to deal with your pain is by visiting a physiotherapy clinic, you should also avoid some common mistakes for the best results. Avoid the following mistakes to manage your pain better

1. Ignoring the pain far too long

Most of us tend to ignore pain till it becomes truly difficult to tolerate it. This is one of the biggest mistakes that can worsen the symptoms over time. The moment you experience back pain, the best thing to do is head to a physiotherapy clinic for a complete check-up. Your doctor will advise exercises and even massage therapies for treating the pain before it becomes adverse. A stitch in time can truly save nine!

2. Sitting long hours at work

Most of us are saddled with desk jobs. This means sitting for long periods of time. However, if a back pain is peeping round the corner, it is important to be mindful about your sitting hours. Count the number of hours you spend sitting at your desk. Plan intermittent breaks and walk around or stretch a bit before you get into the sitting position again. This will help in managing your back pain.

3. Going under the knife without knowing the risks

Unless your pain has been caused by an anatomical problem of specific nature like a herniated disc that is exerting pressure on a nerve or due to a degenerative disc disease, surgery is not the solution to your problems. Chronic back ache is better managed with the help of a long term therapy comprising of physical therapy and exercise.

A lingering back pain can also be a symptom of a more serious condition. So, make sure you consider a complete medical check-up for ruling out all complications and continue physical therapy as advised.

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3 Mistakes that Can Make Your Back Pain Worse

A chronic back pain is like an annoying guest who doesn’t wish to leave you any time soon. You really need to devise strategies for shooing it away, the faster you can. Of course, physiotherapy treatments prove to be extremely helpful. However, there are some common mistakes to avoid for a complete recovery or prevention. Here are a few of the common mistakes that worsen a back pain.

1. Not knowing the triggers

Not everyone with a back pain suffers the same symptoms. And the triggers could be distinctly different too. So, you need to understand the ones that worsen your condition. It could be your sleeping pose, any particular exercise, any food item or even any medicines you usually take for back pain. You need to identify your triggers and avoid them as much as possible.

2. Incorrect posture

Your physiotherapy specialist will advise you on the more desirable postures. Slouching is the most common mistake we all commit. Be it while standing or sitting, your back needs to be upright at all times. Even at work, you need an ergonomic chair with an upright back support, for complete comfort and rest. An additional support for your lower back might also helpful.

3. Skipping warm up due to lack of time

If you have no time for warm up, it is advisable to skip the actual workout as well. If you do not warm up, the muscles are not in proper condition to endure the exercise since the blood circulation within the muscles is not adequate. This undue stress put on the muscles can cause pain.

If you suffer lower back pain, you should handle it with utmost seriousness. Consider visiting a physiotherapy clinic and making the necessary lifestyle changes. It is important to be mindful about your condition and act accordingly.

 

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Exercises for Back Pain

Regular exercises provide excellent respite, especially from lower back pain. When performed correctly under the supervision of a physiotherapy clinic, the exercises help in mobilizing the spine and strengthening the muscles. We look at some simple yet effective stretches and exercises for effective management of back pain.

Bottom to heel stretching

Begin by kneeling on all fours. Place the knees under your hips and the hands under your shoulders. Elongate the neck and push your shoulders back. Now take your bottom towards the back without disturbing the natural spinal curve. Hold this position, take a deep breath and return to where you started. A set of eight to ten repetitions would be ideal for the right impact. Begin with mild stretches and intensify as your body flexes.

The classic half lunge

Keep your feet staggered and stand upright with your left leg in front. Bend the front knee to a right angle and lower the back knee by a few inches from the floor base. Now press the right hip forward and you will feel a stretch along the frontal hip. Hold this position for about 20 to 30 seconds. Change legs and perform a set of five for each.

Child’s Pose

This is a yogic posture that stretches your back and allows muscle relaxation.  Sit on the heels with your knees separated by hip distance. Exhale and bring your upper body down between the thighs. Elongate your hands forwards. You may even join your palms. Hold this position for 30 to 60 seconds.

Pilates and strength training are also excellent for managing back pain. However, it is important to understand that these exercises will result in some initial discomfort. It is always better to do them under the supervision of your physiotherapy clinic. The discomfort will fade away and you will certainly be able to realize the true benefits soon enough.

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How to Sleep with Lower Back Pain

Most people suffer lower back pain at some point in their life. Often, the pain goes away naturally after a few days. Physiotherapy treatment can help you heal even faster. However, so long as the pain persists, it usually makes sleeping at night difficult for you.

When you have lower back pain, consider sleeping with your back aligned in a comfortable position. The right sleeping position for lower back pain varies from person to person, but the following three positions work best for most patients.

1. Sleeping on your side

If sleeping on your back hurts, try sleeping on either your left or right side. Also, consider placing a pillow between your knees for a comfortable alignment of your spine. If the gap between your waist and the mattress is quite wide, you can even put a small pillow under your waist.

When sleeping on your side, ideally you should avoid the fetal position. However, depending on how the position feels, you may be advised to sleep with your knees pulled towards the chest. For instance, patients with a herniated disk find the fetal position more comfortable for sleeping.

2. Sleeping on your back

Depending on the location of your lower back pain, sleeping on your back with a pillow placed under your knees could be more comfortable for you. You may also want to add a rolled up towel under your back to support the natural curvature of your spine.

3. Sleeping on your stomach

In some cases of back pain, sleeping on the stomach could be helpful. If you choose to sleep in this position, consider placing a small pillow under your lower abdomen area. This will help take the pressure off your spine. If required, you may even want to avoid using a pillow under your head for better alignment.

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How is Stress-induced Back Pain Diagnosed and Treated?

Stress, which most of us are forced to deal with in some form or the other, manifests itself through a myriad of physical and psychological symptoms. Often, mounting stress may result in unexplained irritability, fuzzy thinking, forgetfulness, and so on. Among physical symptoms, aches and pains could be most common. When we are anxious or stressed out, the muscles in our body lose the ability to relax and remain tensed for a long time. This results in chronic aches. Although physiotherapy can help improve the condition, stress-induced pain needs to be diagnosed and treated the right way.

Symptoms for diagnosis

How do you know if your pain has been induced by stress? Well, when you are stressed, the body is likely to experience muscle aches that are diffused in nature. Back pain would most often be accompanied by neck and shoulder pain as well. There could be tender points in your muscles. Patients also experience sleep disturbances and chronic fatigue. Patients may feel that the pain is “moving around” or shifting from one place to another.

Treatment specifications

The treatment for stress-induced back pain usually requires taking a holistic approach. Muscle relaxants and pain killers have to be taken for managing the physical symptoms. Physiotherapy sessions are often recommended for sustained pain relief. In addition, anti depressants can be prescribed for stress relief and mood alleviation. Regular exercises, yoga and meditation should also be advised for calming the mind.

Often times, counseling techniques can also go a long way in helping to manage stress induced pains and aches. Counselors help the patient deal with their inner fears and insecurities that are causing stress and leading to manifestations, such as muscle pain and back pain. Once the root cause responsible for triggering the stress is identified and dealt with, the manifestations can also be managed better.

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When to See a Doctor for Your Back Pain

Back pains can be benign or a sign of something more serious. Often times, we tend to treat a persistent back pain with home based remedies like local application of muscle relaxants, hot fomentation and so on. What if the problem continues and gets worse by the day? When is the right time to reach out to a doctor or a physiotherapy clinic? Here are some red flags or warning symptoms that you need to make the move.

Fever that accompanies the pain

According to doctors, fever along with the regular back pain could mean a serious infection. At times, the fever may have been caused due to an entirely different nature of viral attack and the back pain could be an allied symptom for the same. Doctors will evaluate your condition and prescribe antibiotics in case a spine related infection is detected. In the absence of such a cause, anti inflammatory drugs and plenty of rest would be prescribed.

A pins and needles sensation   

If your back pain is accompanied by a tingling sensation in and around the lower back region, it could well be much more than muscle tension. A tingling feeling is often associated with nerve irritation which might be caused due to spinal stenosis or a set of herniated discs that might be putting unnecessary pressure on the nerves. In such cases, your doctor might advise you to visit a physiotherapy clinic for quick relief.

Emergency signs and symptoms

Often times, a dull ache in the lower back accompanied by symptoms like dizziness, vomiting, nausea, confusion, chills, sweating and so on signal emergency health conditions that could be serious in nature. These should never be ignored and medical help should be sought immediately.

Any persistent problem experienced by the body should be dealt with utmost seriousness. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

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Causes and Symptoms of Piriformis Syndrome

The piriformis syndrome is a relatively uncommon neuromuscular disorder that occurs when the piriformis muscle puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. This muscle is band-like in shape and is located at the top of the hip joint, around the buttocks. The sciatic nerve is thick in structure and passes through the piriformis muscle and eventually branches into smaller nerves which run right up to the feet. Compression of this nerve can occur as a result of spasms in the piriformis muscle. The best way to alleviate the pain is by visiting a physiotherapy clinic.

Causes and Symptoms

In most cases, the condition is characterized with a pain or a numbness and tingling sensation in the buttocks. The pain can be extensive and severe and can run along the sciatic nerve, much like sciatica pain. Any posture that causes further compression to the sciatic nerve can aggravate the pain. So, it can be triggered by sitting in the car, while running, climbing stairs, applying pressure on the piriformis muscles, being seated for long duration and so on.

However, it is important to remember that most cases of sciatica pain are not causes by the piriformis syndrome. Irrespective of the cause of sciatic nerve compression however, a physiotherapy clinic is certainly the place to head to for some quick relief. A trained physiotherapist can help in relaxing the nerve and hence reducing the pain.

How is it diagnosed?

Typically, there is no specific diagnosis for piriformis syndrome.  There are no tests. Sometimes, an MRI may be performed for ruling out any allied causes for nerve compression. Doctors perform a physical examination and check the symptoms shared by patients for arriving at a conclusive diagnosis.

Apart from physiotherapy, pain killers might also be advised for acute pains. Steroids may also be prescribed in certain cases.

 

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How Piriformis Syndrome is Diagnosed and Treated?

Piriformis syndrome occurs when the sciatica nerve is compressed by the piriformis muscle. The condition, also known as “pseudo sciatica” can result in excruciating pain around the hip joints and buttocks. The pain can be aggravated by any untoward movement of the hip joint, long hours of sitting, walking and so on. So, how does your physiotherapy specialist diagnose piriformis syndrome?

Diagnosis

To start with a clinical examination will be carried out to exclude other conditions that can replicate the symptoms of this syndrome. These examinations could be a CT scan, MRI scan, ultrasound, EMG and so on. The examination should also be able to negative lumbosacral spinal pathology as one of the causes for the pain.

Once these conditions are ruled out, the physiotherapy specialist will perform for tests for stretching the piriformis muscles and for provoking the sciatic nerve by maneuvers like internal rotation, flexion, adduction and so on. In some cases, a specialized test called the magnetic resonance neurography can also be performed for showing the irritation caused to the sciatic nerve. However, it is rarely required.

Treatment

Once the cause has been identified, the physiotherapy clinic may advise

·         Re alignment techniques of the pelvis and spine for relief.

·         Techniques for mobilizing the affected joint for restoring mobility, function and range of motion.

·         Electrotherapy or massage for alleviating pain and spasms and enhancing blood flow might also be advised.

·         A complete stretching session for enhancing muscle flexibility will also help in going a long way.

Apart from physiotherapy, doctors may also prescribe pain killers at the outset or even steroids in case the pain is excruciating and limiting movement. However, these medications have their side effects and minimal consumption is advised. Your physiotherapist is the best person to suggest holistic treatments that are free from harmful side effects.

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Should You Exercise with Lower Back Pain?

When you visit a physiotherapy clinic with excruciating back ache, you hardly expect your therapist to advice regular exercise. Believe it or not, doctors actually feel that regular exercising can help alleviate chronic back ache. Specialists consider exercising to be an inexpensive, non invasive and affordable means of curing back related problems.

Why is exercising advised?

To begin with, regular exercising helps in reducing weight. Losing weight reduces the stress on the muscles of the lower back, relieving you of the pain. Exercising also improves body flexibility and a range of body motions. It also works towards strengthening the back muscles, thus preventing future episodes of chronic pains or aches.

What kinds of exercises are advised?

Since the lower back muscles are already stressed, safety becomes a top priority before you begin your exercise regime. You need to visit your physiotherapy clinic and stick to the suggestions offered by your physiotherapist. Exercises that put pressure on the affected area should be avoided completely. Here are some exercise suggestions.

·         Swimming – Water provides excellent support to your muscles and joints when you exercise. Apart from swimming, you can also try walking in water, lifting your body slowly with the help of your hands and similar movements for stretching and strengthening your muscles. Going for an aquatic exercise class might also help.

·         Bicycling – Cycling is an excellent exercise, which helps strengthen the joints and muscles of your lower back. Go slow and stop if you experience discomfort in and around the hip area. Make sure you do not overdo your biking schedule. Start with shorter durations and increase as the days pass.

·         Playing golf – If you love playing golf, your physiotherapist will certainly advise you to continue since it happens to be a low impact sport. However, make sure you stretch and warm up before starting off.

Remember to keep your posture right and use the right shoes before you begin exercising.

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Tips for Flying with Back Pain

Flying long distance with severe back pain might prove to be extremely tiring. You will need assistance with respect to seating arrangements, additional help for moving around and so on. So, what should you do? Your physiotherapy specialist is the best person to guide you. Here are some more tips for your assistance.

Carry a letter from your doctor

It is wise to carry a letter with you, duly signed and stamped by your physiotherapy specialist. The letter should be addressed to the customer service department of your airline. It must specify your condition and the kind of help and assistance that you might need for a safe and comfortable flight. Although most airlines have a bad reputation with regard to the quality of customer service, a letter will at least brighten your chances of getting some help.

Choose your seat wisely

Some seats would be free while others will require additional pay. You must book a window seat that is not too far away from the washroom. Being on the middle or the aisle seat would require you to move out multiple times, whenever your co passenger wishes to step out for a quick washroom visit or a small walk down the aisle. The window seat remains undisturbed.

Keep medications handy

If the pain is severe, you can take a painkiller tablet right ahead of your boarding time. This will help manage the pain during the course of the flight. Keep other medications handy too. If it is a long haul flight, you may need to pop another pill or apply muscle relaxant for additional relief.

Don’t pack unnecessary things

When you are traveling with pain, it is always advisable to pack light. Carrying heavy bags will only worsen your condition.

Ask your physiotherapist to provide you contacts of some specialists you might have to consult, during your stay.

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4 More Ways to Indulge Your Spine

Let’s face it; most of us are ignorant about spine care. And it is this casual approach that makes the spinal cord more susceptible to pains and injuries. Physiotherapy specialists assert that timely care and maintenance goes a long way in protecting it. Here are 4 more ways to take preventive care of your spine.

1. Choose the right pillow for your sleep

Ideally, you need a pillow for supporting the curves of your neck. So, people with different sleeping postures will need different pillows. If you sleep on the side, your pillow should be thicker for ensuring correct positioning of the head and neck. Similarly, a lot depends on your built as well. Petite frames will need slimmer pillows and broad shouldered people will need thicker ones.

2. Exercising in water

Exercising in water is excellent for your spine because the buoyancy of water provides upward support to your spine and reduces the downward force of gravity. In addition, the mild viscosity of water provides the right resistance to motion, by friction. This reduces the risk of spine injury during exercising and provides additional flexibility to the spinal joints.

3. Kick the butt

Smoking actually increases the chances of developing spinal disorders that are degenerative in nature and may lead to back pain. This is because smoking is responsible for damaging vascular structures of joints and discs. Therefore, if you are a smoker, it is time to kick the butt and opt for healthier addictions instead. Although this may seem difficult at first, the efforts are surely to pay off.

4. Opt for a standing desk

The sitting posture puts three-fold pressure on the spinal discs of your lower back, as compared to the standing posture. Your lumbar spine can be under huge stress if you sit at your desk for long hours. Opting for a standing desk for intermittent use will do a whole lot of good to your spine.

Never ignore pain or discomfort in the spinal discs. Seek comprehensive guidance and help from your physiotherapy specialist before it is too late.

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Top 4 Ways to Indulge Your spine

Most of us tend to be ignorant about the condition of our spine, and neglect aches and pains till they are manageable. It is only when the problems become acute, requiring frequent visits to a physiotherapy clinic, do we sit up and take note. It is important to understand that problems of the spinal cord can lead to fair amount of complications. Ideally, you should take proactive measures for keeping the all important support system of our body, in perfect shape. Here are 4 ways to pamper your spine.

1. Include yogic postures in your daily regime

Believe it or not, practicing yoga is the best way to strengthen your spinal cord. You need to keep aside half hour everyday and practice the cobra pose, cow pose, twist while sitting, dog pose by facing downwards and triangle pose. When practiced daily, these posses nourish the spine and make it more flexible.

2. Take a walk regularly

Another way to indulge your spike by strengthening the core muscles is to set time aside for a walk, on regular basis. Low impact aerobic exercises like jogging can also be considered. Apart from strengthening the core, daily walks improve flexibility and reinforces the bone structure.

3. Eat right

Avoid saturated fats, too much sugar, baked good, processed or packed foods in your diet. These are extremely harmful for your spine. Choose fresh fruits, whole grains and veggies instead. Opt for sources of lean protein like chicken or tofu.

4. Check your sitting posture

This is especially important if you have a desk job. The spine has several curves and ideally, the sitting arrangement should support these for proper comfort. You will certainly need ergonomically designed chairs. You may also consider sitting on an exercise ball for few hours in the day.

As your physiotherapy clinic will advise you, any problem concerning the spine, should be tackled immediately. Preventive measures go a long way in managing these problems in future.

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The ankle sprain – when can I return to play?

The ankle sprain – an injury all too familiar to us athletes and non-athletes alike. Often, we take it through the age-old “rest & ice method”, start wriggling our ankle after a few days of limping around and return to play within a week or two. Why then, do we find it more difficult to maintain our balance on the court or field even months after the initial injury?

Ankle inversion injuries (foot twisting inwards) are the most common ankle sprains which can occur during twisting or turning movements, or landing from a height. The sudden twisting of the foot places shearing forces on the ligaments on the outer side of the ankle, resulting in an overstretch, or in more severe cases, tearing of the ligaments.

Pain and swelling often arise from the trauma of an ankle sprain. Subsequent pain-avoidance behaviors, which include limping and limiting movement in the acute phase, can also alter the way we move. Additionally, mechanoreceptors embedded within the ankle joint and ligaments also lose their ability to provide proprioception – the way the body tells where it is in space (this partly explains why you feel wobbly when attempting to balance on the injured leg!). These changes often result in compensatory movements, which may over time lead to tissue adaptation further up the kinetic chains of our body. Left unaddressed, these deficits in neuromuscular control contribute to a higher risk for recurrent injury, leading to chronic ankle instability.

Our physiotherapists will be able to guide you through your recovery and advise on your readiness to return to sport, with a goal of reducing risk for recurrence. This includes an in-depth assessment of your posture, movement, neuromuscular control and other risk factors. Your physio will then guide you through the rehab process which may include swelling management, taping, postural & neuromuscular training, strengthening & proprioceptive exercises to aid your return to sport. Our goal is to have you back in play with a reduced risk for recurrent injuries so that you minimise your injury downtime!

Reference:

Gribble et al., (2016). Evidence review for the 2016 International Ankle Consortium consensus statement on the prevalence, impact and long-term consequences of lateral ankle sprains. Br J Sports Med, 50 (24), 1496-1505.

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Non-surgical Treatment Options for Neck Pain

Neck pain is both very common and fairly scary. Patients often rush to their doctor for scans to get to try and seek the answer to their pain but this often proves disturbing and unhelpful in equal measure. Often, neck pain is caused by poor posture, lack of movement or poor movement patterns that are occurring both in the neck and the rest of the body. Other common causes include sudden injury from an accident, degenerative disorders, spinal infection, and even stress or emotional tension. Most cases of neck pain do not require a surgical treatment. Self-help measures or home treatments help deal with most cases of neck pain. For more serious neck problems, you can visit a physiotherapy clinic or try other non-surgical treatment options.

Medicines

If you have acute, short-term neck pain, you can use over-the-counter pain relievers or seek medical attention. Some common types of drugs that work well for neck pain include anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and even opioids.

Cervical collars 

You may also be advised to use cervical collars to help support the neck and restrict extreme neck movements for a short period. Make sure you do not use it for more than one or two days. Long-term use of soft collars has not shown to be of benefit and may even worsen a neck condition by causing weakening of the surrounding muscles that support the neck.

Physical Therapy (Physiotherapy)

Combining manual therapy with exercise is one of the most effective treatments of neck pain. Manual therapy includes targeted soft tissue release (various types of specific massage), mobilisation of the joints and manipulation. If done correctly, this type of treatment helps release tension and muscle stiffness naturally. However, it is very important to undergo any kind of manual therapy under the guidance of an expert such as a Physiotherapist or Osteopath. chiropractor or osteopathic doctor. Physical therapy (physiotherapy) can resolve most cases of neck pain within three to six weeks. You practitioner will also ask you to continue doing some stretching and strengthening exercises at home to help prevent any possible relapse.

It will be important to seek a physiotherapist that looks for root cause of your condition, be it postural, your movement patterns or restrictions within your shoulders, mid back or even further afield to help solve the route of your problem. More research is now showing that is almost important to get the root of the problem with an MRI! 

Acupuncture

This treatment method works by inserting a number of fine needles in different parts of the body. That way, they try to restrict the pain singles from reaching the brain. According to acupuncture experts, neck pain or any kind of pain occurs when the natural energy flow or “Qi” of your body gets obstructed. Acupuncture treatment helps to unblock the Qi flow through needling and thus helps restore natural movements of the neck. Make sure you receive any kind of acupuncture treatment from an expert in the field.

Dry Needling

Dry needling is another technique often utilised my physiotherapists, osteopaths and medical doctors to resolve pain and reduce spasm, restoring muscle length. It uses the same type of needles as used in acupuncture but in this case the needles are briefly inserted into areas bands of tension causing a “twitch response”. This response causes a relaxation of the tissue and the brief injury to the tissue via the needle helps accelerate the healing process.

In summary there are a large range of treatments available for neck pain. Most of the time neck and back pain can not be adequately explained with an x-ray or MRI and does NOT require surgical intervention and can be resolved with physiotherapy or “conservative” management. The key is early assessment by a qualified practitioner to rule out any serious conditions and identify the route cause of your problem followed by appropriate manual therapy, exercise prescription and potentially adjuncts such as dry needling or acupuncture.

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