Back pain is a common problem in the developed world to the extent that up to 80% of people will suffer from it at some point during their lives. It is a leading cause of absenteeism from work and can have a serious impact on the quality of life of those who experience it. As such it is an issue which needs to be addresses but for many people there is no surgical solution and medications merely mask the pain rather than treat the causes of the problem.

What Causes Back Pain?

Backache is most common in the lower back but can be felt anywhere along the spine. The pain can vary from a dull ache to a sharp pain or back spasm and can be caused by a variety of injuries, conditions and lifestyle issues. The most common causes are:

• A herniated (slipped) disc
• Sciatica (compression of the sciatic nerve)
• Whiplash during a sudden impact
• Osteoarthritis (wear and tear arthritis)
• Sports injuries
• Bending awkwardly
• Lifting heavy weights
• Poor posture, particularly when seated
• Being seated for too long or too often
• Repetitive movements

How Can Osteopathy Help You?

Osteopathy offers a holistic approach to the treatment of back pain and can help when other forms of treatment have failed. Osteopathy can be an effective therapy for muscular back pain, sciatica and other back issues with the aforementioned common causes. It tackles the immediate source of the pain together with other areas of the body which may affect the spine. A good Osteopath will also address any issues with posture and lifestyle which may be inhibiting recovery and causing back pain to recur.

At Chilbridge in Witney we offer back pain and back injury treatments. We conduct a careful examination and review your case history in order to provide a diagnosis and to recommend a treatment plan to address your back ache. As osteopaths we are back pain specialists and use a wide range of manual manipulations and techniques and these will depend on your diagnosis, age and general level of fitness. They may include gentle massage of the soft tissues and articulation of the joints.

We are then able to advise you on suitable exercises, stretches and lifestyle changes that will aid your recovery and help to prevent recurrences of your back pain. You may wish to consider regular “maintenance” visits to reduce the risk of further acute episodes.