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Over 80-90% of the population will suffer from back pain at some point in their lifetime, many of whom do not realise that there are a wealth of effective bodywork systems available to assist them. The Myosteopractic approach is comprehensive. Myosteo-practitioners do not regard people simply as back sufferers, but as individuals with their own unique health requirements. The Myosteopractic method is designed to release a person's mechanical problems in order to stimulate their own natural healing processes. Myosteopractic does not simply deal with back problems, but looks at all the factors contributing to a disrupted state of health. The lumbar plexus (cluster of nerves) is situated in the lower back; it supplies the abdomen, groin, hips, legs, knees and feet. Dysfunction may reflect as pain, tingling, numbness, muscle spasm, muscle tightness, varicose veins, constipation, infertility, bed wetting, etc. It may show as cramps in the calves or feet especially at night. In children it often shows as leg pains (“growing pains”), heavy legs or as reluctance to walking any distance (wanting to be carried). Spinal directed non-force release is an effective, proven and safe "hands-on" approach used by professionally trained Myosteo-practitioners, in conjunction with soft tissue cross releases and other complementary techniques, to improve spinal structure, mobility and function. About The Back
The centrepiece is the spinal column, which not only supports the upper body's weight but houses and protects the spinal cord - the delicate nervous system structure that carries signals which control the body's movements and convey its sensations. Small nerves enter and exit from the spinal cord through spaces between the vertebrae. The spaces between the vertebrae are maintained by round, spongy pads of cartilage called intervertebral discs. These allow flexibility of the back and act like shock absorbers throughout the spinal column to cushion the bones as the body moves. Strong ligaments and tendons hold the vertebrae in place and attach the muscles to the spinal column. Low back pain As people age, their bone strength, muscle elasticity and tone tend to decrease. The discs lose fluid and flexibility which decreases their ability to cushion the vertebrae. Pain can occur when you lift something too heavy or overstretch, causing a joint sprain or a spasm in one of the muscle groups in the back. A disc may rupture or bulge outward; this can put pressure on spinal nerves. When these nerve roots become compressed or irritated, back pain and sciatica often results. Low back pain may result from nerve or muscle irritation, joint sprain or bone lesions. Most low back pain follows injury or trauma to the back, but pain may be associated with other factors such as degenerative conditions, arthritis, bone or disc disease, osteoporosis or congenital abnormalities of the spine. Obesity, lack of exercise, pregnancy, emotional stress, poor physical condition, poor posture and poor sleeping position also may contribute to back pain. Additionally, scar tissue created when an injured back heals itself does not have the strength or flexibility of normal tissue. A build-up of scar tissue from repeated injuries eventually weakens the back and can lead to loss of normal flexibility and function. Causes of back pain Most back troubles arise from mechanical or functional disturbances of the spine, nerves, muscles and myofascia. Back problems do not simply cause pain in the back. They may be the source of remote pain in the buttocks, legs or groin - commonly called sciatica. Back problems can disturb the mechanical function of the whole body and result in pain in the head, neck, between shoulder blades, arms and shoulders. Myosteopractic can help very effectively to release these conditions. Back problems account for over 50% of cases seen by Myosteo-practitioners. Some causes:
Acute or short-term low back pain Most acute back pain is mechanical in nature - the result of trauma to the lower back. Pain from trauma may be caused by a sports injury, work around the house or garden, a sudden jolt from a car accident / whiplash or repetitive stress to spinal joints and musculature. Symptoms may range from muscle aches to shooting or stabbing pain, spinal stiffness or an inability to stand upright. Chronic or long-term back pain Chronic back pain is one that persists for more than 3 months. It is important to work with chronic problems sooner rather than later to avoid further gradual degeneration of spinal joints. Its cause is usually similar to acute back pain however the presence of Osteoarthritis / degenerative conditions and postural / occupational factors may have in important role to play here. Sciatica is a condition in which the sciatic nerve, the large nerve that extends down from the spine in the lower back to its exit point in the pelvis and carries nerve fibres to the leg, is irritated. This may be due deep muscular compression around the spine, interfering with the alignment of the vertebra, thus placing pressure on the nerves exiting the spine. In more severe cases a herniated or ruptured disc presses on the nerves exiting the spine. Sciatic nerve compression causes shock-like or burning low back pain combined with pain through the buttocks and down one leg to below the knee, occasionally reaching the foot. In the more severe cases, the symptoms involve not only pain but numbness and tingling with occasional loss of muscular control in the leg. Spinal degeneration - Osteoarthritis and Spinal Stenosis Disc wear and tear can lead to a narrowing of the spinal canal especially if the spine has become twisted (scoliosis) A person with spinal degeneration may experience stiffness in the back on waking and leg pain (sciatica) during walking or while standing for a long time. Directed and careful Myosteopractic may help alleviate postural stress due to degenerative change and help alleviate symptoms.
Skeletal irregularities and abnormal posture produce strain on the supporting structures of the spine. These irregularities include Scoliosis, a curve or series of curves of the spine to the side; Kyphosis, in which the normal curve of the upper back is severely rounded; Lordosis, an abnormally accentuated forward sway in the lower back or neck. Myosteopractic together with regular structural corrective exercises can often help to straighten and mobilise curvatures and minimise spinal discomfort and stiffness. Postural & Occupational Pain As the hours spent working at computers has steadily increased over the last few decades, so has the number of posture-related conditions that we see on a daily basis in our practice. The pain caused by poor postural habits (whether at work, in the car, or at home) manifests itself, primarily in the muscles of the neck, shoulders and low back, but can also - either directly or indirectly, affect many other parts of the body. Whilst manual work inevitably carries the inherent risk of back injury from a combination of heavy and often awkward lifting, as well as periods of prolonged bending; it is in the office, where desk work is more common, that the dangers of computer hump and mouse wrist await; whilst long hours on the telephone will affect the neck and shoulders causing headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome etc. The often over looked cause of back irritation in the office is stress build up. Statistically office workers complain about their back more than manual labourers. Those who drive for a living also need to be aware of their driving posture as it affects not only their back, neck and shoulders but also can affect hips, knees and feet. Myosteopractic can help to alleviate postural pain by treating the stiffness of the affected muscles and joints. We help to improve posture by eradicating the chronic muscle/myofascia imbalance that has slowly built up over the months or years, together with stretching and strengthening exercises. Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease marked by progressive decrease in bone density and strength. Women are four times more likely than men to develop osteoporosis - especially after menopause. Fracture of brittle bones in the spine and hips results when this condition is allowed to advance untreated. Spondylosis refers to chronic spinal degeneration and stiffness, whilst Spondylitis describes inflammation of the spinal joints. Another painful inflammatory condition of the lower back is Sacroiliitis (inflammation in the pelvic joints). Exercise At the right point in your recovery, exercise is the best way to strengthen your low back by rebuilding lost muscle tone and strength. Maintaining and building spinal and abdominal muscle strength is particularly important for people recovering from a spinal injury. A routine of back-healthy activities may include stretching exercises, swimming, walking, and cycling to improve coordination and develop better posture and muscle balance. Pilates, Egoscue and Yoga are excellent means to gently stretch, strengthen muscles, correct posture and ease pain. Top Ten Tips for Back Care
Diseases that may show in the back Occasionally, low back pain may indicate a more serious medical problem. Pain accompanied by fever or loss of bowel or bladder control, pain when coughing and progressive weakness in the legs may indicate a severely compressed nerve or other serious condition. There are many disease states and pathological conditions that can result in symptoms of backache. These include:
If these diseases are found, the Myosteo-practitioner will help in the areas s/he is able and will advise that medical treatment may be required. While the above conditions are not curable by Myosteopractic, the pain and distress of some of these conditions can be greatly relieved as underlying imbalances are released from the musculo-skeletal system. Myosteopractic in conjunction with specialised treatment can improve success rates. X-ray & MRI Spinal X-rays may help diagnose the cause and location of back pain and screen for more serious pathology. Medication Medication is often used to treat acute and chronic low back pain. |
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The back is an intricate structure of bones, joints, muscles and other tissues that form the posterior part of the body's trunk, from the neck to the pelvis.
Scoliosis, Kyphosis and Lordosis