Suffering from back pain, lower back pain or sciatica?

Our expert back pain physios & sports therapists can offer advice and treatment tailored to your needs.

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Physiotherapy for back pain

At our Response Physio & Sports Therapy clinics located across the UK, we specialise in treatment for back musculoskeletal conditions, from an acute back injury to chronic muscle pain, nerve pain, ligament pain, and spine pain.

Lumbar back pain is one of the most common medical conditions that we treat in physiotherapy, affecting around 8 in 10 people at some point during their lifetime. Back pain can range from dull, aching pain to sharp, sudden pains, and can significantly affect one’s ability to complete daily activities.

How can physiotherapy help back pain?

Our Chartered Physiotherapists, located at our 17 clinical locations nationwide, are experienced in treating mild to chronic back pain issues. Our team will complete a full assessment and create a personalised back rehabilitation plan that suits you, so you can be back to feeling yourself again.

Our Physiotherapist will combine their in-depth knowledge of the body and how it works with specialised hands-on clinical skills. Depending on your condition, the root cause of the pain and goals, your Physiotherapist will devise a personalised treatment to help your recovery.

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What are the best treatments for
back pain?

Response Physiotherapists use a wide range of treatments and techniques to help with back pain, as well as offering advice on looking after your back. Our expert back pain Physiotherapists may suggest treatments such as a sports massage for back pain, hands-on mobilisation and manipulation of the joints, spinal traction, electrotherapy, or K-taping depending on your problem. Whether you are looking for treatment for a pulled back muscle, how to heal a herniated disc, or how to treat a trapped nerve in back, our personalised physio treatment care plans help you get back on track.

Back pain treatment is usually most effective when it involves strengthening exercises. Your Physiotherapist may prescribe stretches and exercise programs to strengthen the core, improve or restore mobility in the back and address any underlying imbalances or postural problems.

Learn how to alleviate back pain at home before your appointment with our ‘Lockdown back pain’ article, including remedies for back pain.

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Main causes of back pain

Back pain is very common, but its cause can be determined on a case-to-case basis, although sometimes it can be unclear (this is referred to as ‘non-specific’ back pain). In cases where the pain originates from the joints, bones or soft tissues in and around the spine, it is referred to as mechanical back pain.

The most common cause of back pain, particularly lower back pain, is a combination of poor posture and inactivity, typically seen in individuals who sit for prolonged periods. When the source of the pain is in your spinal joints, discs, vertebrae, or soft tissues, it is usually referred to as mechanical back pain.

There are many potential causes of mechanical back pain, the main ones including:

  • An accident or fall causing damage or strain to a muscle, ligament, spinal disc, nerve or bone
  • Poor posture for prolonged periods such as slouching at your desk
  • Lifting heavy objects
  • Muscle, bone or tissue weakness due to lack of activity/exercise

There are also many potential medical causes of back pain, this includes:

  • Herniated, ruptured, or bulging or slipped discs
  • Arthritis / osteoarthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Degenerative or wear-and-tear changes within the spine
  • Inflammation and wear of the sacroiliac joint which can happen because of arthritis, infection, or even pregnancy

WHAT ARE THE COMMON SYMPTOMS OF BACK PAIN?

The symptoms of back pain, if due to strain or posture, are usually short-lived but can last for days or weeks. Back pain is chronic when symptoms have been present for longer than three months. If you experience any of the following symptoms of back pain, book an appointment today.

Common symptoms of back pain include:

  • A dull or strong ache in the lower back that gets more painful when you move and prevents you from straightening up
  • Central pain or pain on either side of the spine
  • An inability to stand up straight without pain
  • A decreased range of motion and diminished ability to flex the back
  • Pain that radiates down into the buttocks, the back of the thigh or even the lower leg (sciatica)
  • Frequent pins and needles or numbness in the buttocks, lower limbs or feet

The above symptoms need to be properly assessed by an experienced Physiotherapist, who can diagnose the cause of your back pain and provide the most appropriate treatment, management and advice.

How to prevent back pain

Many cases of upper and lower back pain can be easily prevented by changing some of your simple daily lifestyle habits. Here are some of the best ways to prevent back pain:

  • Sit up properly and arrange your desk to best suit your height and shape. This includes ensuring you use an ergonomic office chair with lumbar support.
  • Don’t sit in the same position for too long, stand up every 15-20 minutes to recover the arch in your spine.
  • Go for a 30-45 minutes walk each day, or aim for at least 10,000 steps per day.
  • Stretch regularly throughout the day.
  • If you are driving long distances, get out and stretch your legs every hour or so.
  • Arrange an appointment with one of our chartered Physiotherapists if you have pain that stays for longer than 48 hours.

WHY CHOOSE RESPONSE PHYSIO & SPORTS THERAPY
for Back Pain?

We are one of the UK’s leading providers of musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy in the leisure, NHS, and corporate wellbeing markets.

Response Physio & Sports Therapy delivers high-quality physiotherapy to patients across the UK. With a network of clinics, a team of qualified Physiotherapists and Sports Therapists, we can offer a choice of clinics near you and personalised treatment plans to get you feeling better faster.

We offer flexible opening hours to suit busy lifestyles including early and late appointments, Saturday clinics, and remote clinics. There are no waiting lists and appointments are often available within 24 hours. We accept NHS referrals, self-pay, and all major private health insurers, including AXA, BUPA, and Medico-legal.

We have 19 physio clinics within 16 locations that offer treatment for back pain:

CHARTERED PHYSIOTHERAPISTS

FREE PARKING AND DISABLED ACCESS

PERSONAL PLANS DESIGNED FOR YOU

STATE OF THE ART FACILITIES

CENTRAL BOOKING LINE

FLEXIBLE OPENING HOURS

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FAQs

What causes lower back pain?

Lower lumbar back pain: Mechanical problems with the spine, muscles, tendons, and ligaments are the most common causes of right lower back pain. If you need lower back pain help, book an appointment today.

How to treat lower back pain fast?

There are things you can do to relieve lower back pain, but unfortunately, there is no quick fix. The best thing to do is take pain killers, exercise to loosen muscles and use hot/cold compresses. If the pain doesn’t improve after 48 hours of home treatment, you should book an appointment with one of our physio back pain specialists.

What is the best physiotherapy back strengthening exercise?

Our physiotherapists will cover the best strengthening exercises for back pain during your physio appointments. We also have some videos of effective and easy to follow physiotherapy and rehabilitation back pain exercises for you to do at home or in the gym. View our video exercises for back pain.

See what our customers have to say about us

It is our goal to provide exceptional clinical excellence and excellent customer care to all our patients, but don't take our word for it. Read what our customers have to say about our services. We want all our patients to be satisfied with our services. If there’s anything we can do to improve your experience then please get in touch.

With over 840 5 star Google reviews,
Read all our reviews here
Google Rating

Excellent physio, my long-standing shoulder problem that I never thought would resolve is already 90% improved after only a few weeks and getting better all the time. I'm amazed! Online consultation is really simple and works well; friendly and effective service. Highly recommend.

Sally Campbell

Very professional. Cured my tennis elbow in no time! Very convenient venue with plenty of parking.

Bartosz Wietrzyk

I was referred to Response Physio by my insurance company as I was not quite getting the help I needed from the NHS. Great experience from the beginning; friendly, professional and knowledgeable staff, clean and modern facilities and best of all, my injury is fixed without the use of painkillers and I have a great aftercare program to make sure it stays that way. Special shout out to the physio Uhr who really is an asset to the clinic. Highly recommended.

Lonnie C

The Physiotherapy sessions were really helpful with targeted advice between sessions when my back was bad - I went onto the Pilates sessions really for maintenance and have also really enjoyed them I am stronger and more flexible and walking pain-free is wonderful- Thanks Ellie

Gordon Shiells

The service I have received from the physiotherapists at this practice over many years has been first-class. The physiotherapists are friendly and knowledgeable, and the treatments have had a major, positive effect on my health. I have also attended Pilates classes run and led by physiotherapists from this practice for many years, and these classes have played a major role in preventing injury, as well as enhancing mobility and strength. I fully recommend this Response Physio & Sports Therapy Gosforth (Balmoral).

Doug Pescod

I saw Arun on 06/02, he was great - went through functional testing and diagnosis. Found several issues relating to my left shoulder and set me up with a rehab plan. Been to other people around Nottingham and Arun was the first person to pinpoint the issues.

Vivesh Patel

Fantastic service, able to see me the day I rang. Thorough assessment and lots of advice given, emailed an excellent sheet and timetable for exercises to be done at home over next 4-6 weeks. Really pleased and would definitely use them again.

Becky Pickles

Have been coming here for over a month now and each time there have been improvements Lowri Walker has been excellent, with all her planning to suit me and my body to get me back on the right path, excelled in all-round knowledge and gone the extra mile helped to find another specialist with my problem if condition got worse cannot thank Lowri enough for her time and effort and flexibility with scheduling. Would highly recommend to anyone needing physio treatment.

John Russell

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