Slipped Disc Treatment with Physiotherapy: Expert Insights

According to SingHealth, the most common age to develop a slipped disc is between 30 and 50 years.

Living with a slipped disc can be a painful and challenging experience. If you’re struggling with lower back pain caused by this condition, you might be wondering about effective treatment options. Physiotherapy for slipped disc has emerged as a powerful, non-invasive approach to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. This holistic treatment method addresses not only the pain but also the underlying causes of your discomfort.

In this article, we’ll explore how physiotherapy can help you overcome the challenges of a slipped disc. You’ll gain insights into the causes and symptoms of this condition, learn about the assessment process, and discover effective techniques used by physiotherapists. We’ll also discuss lifestyle modifications and self-management strategies to support your recovery and prevent future issues. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how physiotherapy can play a crucial role in your journey to better back health.

Understanding Slipped Disc: Causes and Symptoms

A slipped disc, also known as a herniated or ruptured disc, occurs when the soft interior of a spinal disc pushes through a tear in its tougher exterior. This condition can cause significant discomfort and affect your daily life. To help you better understand this condition, let’s explore its common causes, key symptoms, and risk factors.

Common causes of slipped disc

Slipped discs often result from a combination of factors:

1. Ageing: As you grow older, your spinal discs naturally become less flexible and more prone to tears.
2. Wear and tear: Daily activities and repetitive motions can gradually weaken your disc’s exterior over time.
3. Improper lifting techniques: Using your back muscles instead of your leg and thigh muscles to lift heavy objects can put excessive strain on your spine.
4. Sudden movements: Awkward twisting or turning can sometimes lead to disc herniation.
5. Prolonged sitting: Spending long periods sitting, especially while driving, can increase pressure on your spinal discs.

Key symptoms to watch for

While not all slipped discs cause noticeable symptoms, when they do occur, they can include:

1. Lower back pain: This is often the first sign of a slipped disc in the lumbar region.
2. Radiating pain: You might experience sharp or shooting pain in your buttocks, thighs, calves, or even your feet.
3. Numbness or tingling: These sensations can occur in your shoulders, arms, hands, legs, or feet, depending on the affected disc’s location.
4. Muscle weakness: You might notice difficulty in certain movements or a feeling of instability while walking.
5. Neck pain: If the slipped disc is in your cervical spine, you may experience neck discomfort.
6. Sciatica: When the disc presses on the sciatic nerve, it can cause pain in the buttocks, hips, or legs.

Risk factors

Several factors can increase your likelihood of developing a slipped disc:

1. Age: Disc degeneration naturally occurs as you get older, making you more susceptible to herniation.
2. Occupation: Jobs that involve heavy lifting, pulling, pushing, or repetitive motions can put extra stress on your spine.
3. Weight: Being overweight or obese increases the strain on the discs in your lower back.
4. Genetics: Some people may have a genetic predisposition to disc problems.
5. Smoking: This habit can decrease oxygen supply to your discs, causing them to degenerate more rapidly.
6. Sedentary lifestyle: Lack of regular exercise can weaken the muscles supporting your spine.

At Core Fitness Physiotherapy & Pilates, we understand the impact a slipped disc can have on your life. Our team of expert physiotherapists in Singapore specialises in treating back pain and preventing its recurrence. We emphasise the use of clinical Pilates as part of our comprehensive treatment approach. This method helps strengthen your core muscles, improve flexibility, and promote better posture, all of which are crucial in managing slipped disc symptoms and reducing the risk of future episodes.

Remember, early intervention is key in managing a slipped disc effectively. If you’re experiencing persistent back pain or any of the symptoms mentioned, it’s essential to seek professional help. Our tailored physiotherapy programmes, combined with clinical Pilates, can help you on your path to recovery and long-term spinal health.

Physiotherapy Assessment for Slipped Disc

When you visit Core Fitness Physiotherapy & Pilates in Singapore for a slipped disc assessment, our expert physiotherapists will conduct a thorough evaluation to understand your condition and develop an effective treatment plan. This comprehensive assessment typically involves three main components: a physical examination, diagnostic tests, and the development of a personalised treatment plan.

Physical Examination

During your initial consultation, our physiotherapist will begin with a detailed discussion about your symptoms, medical history, and how the condition affects your daily life. This conversation helps us gain valuable insights into your specific situation.

The physical examination includes several tests to assess your condition:

1. Neurological examination: This involves checking your muscle strength, sensation, and reflexes. Your physiotherapist will ask you to walk on your heels and toes to evaluate lower leg muscle strength.
2. Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test: While lying on your back, the physiotherapist will carefully lift your affected leg, keeping your knee straight. If you experience pain down your leg and below the knee, it may indicate a herniated disc.
3. Contralateral (crossed) Straight Leg Raise test: Similar to the SLR test, but performed on your unaffected leg. A positive result in this test is highly specific for a herniated disc.
4. Muscle strength and flexibility assessment: Your physiotherapist will evaluate the strength and flexibility of various muscle groups, particularly those supporting your spine.

Diagnostic Tests

To confirm the diagnosis and gather more detailed information about your condition, your physiotherapist may recommend additional diagnostic tests:

1. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This is the most common and accurate imaging test for suspected herniated discs. It provides clear images of the soft tissues, including intervertebral discs and spinal nerves.
2. X-rays: While not as detailed as MRI for soft tissue, X-rays can help rule out other causes of back pain and assess overall spinal alignment.
3. Computed Tomography (CT) scan: This test provides detailed images of the bones in your spine and can show if a herniated disc is pressing on your spinal cord or nerves.
4. Electromyogram (EMG): This test evaluates nerve function and can help determine which specific nerve a herniated disc is affecting.

Developing a Treatment Plan

Based on the findings from your physical examination and diagnostic tests, our physiotherapists at Core Fitness Physiotherapy & Pilates will develop a personalised treatment plan. This plan aims to reduce pain, improve function, and prevent future recurrences.

Your treatment plan may include:

1. Clinical Pilates: We emphasise the use of clinical Pilates as a key component in treating back pain and preventing future episodes. This method helps strengthen core muscles, improve flexibility, and promote better posture.
2. Manual therapy: This may include soft tissue massage, joint mobilisation, and specific techniques to relax tense muscles and improve spinal mobility.
3. Exercise therapy: Your physiotherapist will design a tailored exercise programme to help relieve pressure on your nerves, improve strength and flexibility, and enhance overall spinal health.
4. Education: You’ll receive guidance on proper posture, ergonomics, and body mechanics to support your recovery and prevent future injuries.
5. Pain management techniques: This may include the use of heat or cold therapy, electrical stimulation (TENS), or acupuncture to help manage pain and promote healing.

By combining these elements, particularly our specialised clinical Pilates approach, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses your immediate symptoms and supports long-term spinal health.

Effective Physiotherapy Techniques for Slipped Disc Treatment

At Core Fitness Physiotherapy & Pilates, we offer a range of effective techniques to treat slipped discs and alleviate your back pain. Our approach combines manual therapy, targeted exercises, and electrotherapy modalities to provide comprehensive care tailored to your specific needs.

Manual Therapy and Mobilisation

Manual therapy is a cornerstone of our treatment approach for slipped discs. This hands-on technique involves various methods to improve joint mobility and reduce pain:

1. Joint mobilisation: Our physiotherapists use gentle, passive movements to restore motion in restricted areas of your spine. This can help decrease joint stiffness and provide pain relief.
2. Soft tissue massage: We employ different massage techniques to relax tense muscles and ease tension in your back.
3. Mobilisations with Movement (MWMs): This technique, developed by Brian Mulligan, involves applying a sustained force while you perform a previously painful movement. It’s particularly effective for improving lumbar spine flexion.

These manual therapy techniques can produce significant mechanical and neurophysiological effects, offering both immediate and long-term benefits for your slipped disc condition.

Targeted Exercises

Exercise-based physical therapy is crucial for treating pain caused by a slipped disc. At Core Fitness Physiotherapy & Pilates, we emphasise the use of clinical Pilates as a key component in our treatment approach. This method helps strengthen your core muscles, improve flexibility, and promote better posture.

We’ll guide you through a series of exercises tailored to your condition, which may include:

1. Partial crunches with bent knees
2. Hamstring stretches
3. Press-up back extensions
4. Bird dog exercises
5. Knee to chest stretches

These exercises are designed to strengthen your back and stomach muscles, gently stretch your leg and lower back muscles, and support your spine. We’ll instruct you to move within a tolerance range, ensuring you don’t exacerbate your condition.

Electrotherapy Modalities

Electrotherapy can be an effective addition to your treatment plan. This innovative physical therapy technique can help manage pain without the side effects associated with analgesic drugs. Some electrotherapy modalities we may use include:

1. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): This therapy uses low-voltage electrical currents to relieve pain.
2. Ultrasound therapy: We use sound waves to generate heat and relax body tissue in your lower back.
3. Heat and cold therapy: Applying hot packs or cold wraps can help soothe irritated nerves and relax tense muscles.

Research has shown that electrical stimulation therapy can effectively reduce pain levels in patients with lumbar disc herniation-induced sciatica and improve peripheral reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, promoting recovery.

At Core Fitness Physiotherapy & Pilates, we combine these techniques to create a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Our goal is not only to alleviate your current symptoms but also to prevent future recurrences, helping you achieve long-term spinal health.

Lifestyle Modifications and Self-Management

At Core Fitness Physiotherapy & Pilates, we believe that managing a slipped disc extends beyond our clinic walls. By incorporating lifestyle modifications and self-management techniques into your daily routine, you can significantly improve your condition and prevent future recurrences.

Proper posture and ergonomics

Maintaining proper spinal alignment is crucial for distributing weight evenly and preventing undue stress on your vertebrae, discs, and surrounding tissues. To achieve this:

1. Sit with your shoulders rolled back, shoulder blades down, and thighs parallel to the floor.
2. Use a small pillow or rolled-up towel to support your lower back.
3. Position your computer monitor at eye level to prevent neck strain.
4. Keep your keyboard and mouse at elbow height to minimise shoulder and upper back strain.

Investing in an ergonomic office chair can provide adequate lumbar support and maintain the natural curvature of your lower back. If you spend long hours at a desk, consider using a sit-stand desk to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day.

Activity modification

Certain activities can exacerbate your slipped disc symptoms. To minimise stress on your back:

1. When doing laundry, bend at the knees or hips, not your waist.
2. Use a lightweight vacuum and walk it across the floor instead of extending your arm.
3. For pet care, use tools with long handles or kneel down instead of bending at the waist.
4. Apply heat or topical pain relievers before outdoor activities.
5. Avoid high-impact exercises like running, jogging, and jumping.

Remember, staying active is essential, but choose low-impact activities such as walking, swimming, or cycling to promote disc healing and overall spine health.

Home exercise programme

At Core Fitness Physiotherapy & Pilates, we emphasise the importance of clinical Pilates in treating back pain and preventing future episodes. Your physiotherapist will design a tailored home exercise programme that may include:

1. Partial crunches with bent knees to strengthen back and stomach muscles
2. Hamstring stretches to improve flexibility in your legs and lower back
3. Press-up back extensions to support your back while exercising muscles
4. Bird dog exercises to stabilise your lower back
5. Knee-to-chest stretches to gently stretch your stomach muscles

Perform these exercises slowly and gently, stopping if you feel pain. Remember to take regular breaks during prolonged sitting, aiming to stand, stretch, or walk for a minute or two every half hour.

By incorporating these lifestyle modifications and self-management techniques, along with our specialised clinical Pilates approach, you’ll be well on your way to managing your slipped disc effectively and improving your overall spinal health.

Conclusion

Physiotherapy for slipped disc has a significant influence on managing pain and improving overall spinal health. Through a combination of manual therapy, targeted exercises, and electrotherapy modalities, patients can experience relief from their symptoms and gain the tools to prevent future recurrences. At Core Fitness Physiotherapy & Pilates, we put a strong emphasis on using clinical Pilates to treat back pain and to stop it from coming back. This approach helps to strengthen core muscles, boost flexibility, and promote better posture, which are all crucial for long-term spinal health.

By incorporating lifestyle modifications and self-management techniques into daily routines, patients can take an active role in their recovery and maintenance of spinal health. Proper posture, ergonomic adjustments, and a tailored home exercise programme all play a part in supporting the healing process and preventing future issues. To get started on your journey to better back health, why not book an appointment now? Our team of expert physiotherapists is ready to create a personalised treatment plan that addresses your specific needs and helps you achieve lasting relief from slipped disc symptoms.

FAQs

1. How does physiotherapy assist with slipped discs?
In the initial stages, physiotherapy provides extensive guidance on modifying activities and managing pain, including advice on pain relief medications. As the condition stabilises, treatments may involve soft tissue massages and joint mobilisation techniques.

2. What physiotherapy treatments are effective for an L4 L5 disc bulge?
Managing an L4 L5 disc bulge through physiotherapy includes a variety of activities such as Pilates, yoga, swimming, walking, and cycling. Specific exercises like standing lumbar extension and core stabilisation exercises, including planks and rows, are also beneficial.

3. Can physiotherapy resolve a slipped disc?
Physiotherapy can alleviate the inflammation and dysfunction associated with a herniated disc. Once the inflammation is sufficiently reduced, the healing process can begin.

4. What is the most effective therapy for a slipped disc?
Exercise-based physiotherapy is considered effective for treating pain resulting from a slipped disc. This approach involves active participation in exercises and back training. Additionally, manual therapy and treatments that involve physical stimuli may also be incorporated into the treatment plan.

5. Why incorporate Clinical Pilates for slipped disc treatment?

Clinical Pilates strengthens core muscles, improves posture, and promotes spinal alignment. This helps reduce pressure on the slipped disc, alleviating pain and enhancing mobility. It’s a safe, controlled exercise method tailored to your recovery needs.