How Physical Therapy helps Herniated
disc?
Intro:
Before talking about the herniated disc, we should first, know what herniated disc and physical therapy are. Then we talk about how physical therapy helps in the herniated disc, so with further a due let’s start:
What is Herniated Disc?
It is classically a condition in which the disc not only bulges out, but it opens up, and the chemicals inside this herniated disc leak and cause some havoc.
This leads to numbness or tingling, or feeling of a pinched nerve, but most importantly, it locks you up. It can happen anywhere, such as in the neck, the mid-back, or the lower back.
What is Physical Therapy?
It is a health care profession that seeks to improve people's mobility, function, quality of life by using various techniques, exercises, manual therapies, etc.
It means by which different people who thought they can't do their job now can, and it's a means by which an athlete who thinks who can't play can play, so it's a gift.
Different Methods of Physical therapy that helps in Herniated disc:
There are other techniques or methods which are used in physical therapy to improve herniated disc; these are as follows:
1- ELECTROTHERAPY METHODS:
In Electrotherapy, other different techniques help in a herniated disc according to the severity of the disease. It includes:
Ø TENS and IFT THERAPY:
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Inter-Ferential Therapy (IFT) are techniques by which different electrodes are placed on specific myotome, dermatome, or peripheral nerve where they can help to reduce pain by increasing or decreasing the frequency through the device. It helps to reduce local pain.
It is mainly used in the acute phase when herniated disc just happens or in-between a duration of 3 days to 1 week. A person has difficulty performing daily routine activities like standing, walking, going to the washroom, and even coughing or sneezing in this duration.
Ø ULTRASOUND Therapy:
This therapy works by producing a heating effect through its probe and ultrasound gel which act as a medium. Through its heating effect, it improves the blood flow of the injured tissue, thus helps in reducing inflammation and the healing process.
It is also used in the acute phase and primarily used in sports injuries like tendonitis, joint swelling, and muscle spasm.
Ø ICE PAD/ HEATING PAD THERAPY:
In this therapy, an ice or heat pad is applied over the affected area. It provides a soothing effect by improving blood flow, oxygen, and ultimately nutrients to the injured area.
It is usually not recommended in the acute phase when a herniated disc has just happened, and the area is acutely inflamed and achy. However, its application is beneficial in the sub-acute and chronic stage in months or years after injury when the acute inflammation subsided.
Ø SHORT WAVE DIATHERMY (SWD) THERAPY:
In this therapy, high-frequency electromagnetic waves produce a heating effect similar to ultrasound but a much more profound heating effect. It covers a bulk volume of tissue when it comes to healing and relieving spasms.
It is often used in chronic cases that came years after the injury and did not benefit from other methods.
Ø TRACTION THERAPY:
This technique helps in pain relief by pulling on the spine. It has only been recommended for non-life-threatening conditions. It has both mechanical and manual versions.
In it, decompression is provided by a constant force through a machine. The discs are pulled apart, stretching the annular fibers and producing a negative pressure in the disc, causing disc bulges and herniations to go back into the center part of the disc. It is mainly recommended in chronic cases of a herniated disc. Some studies show that traction is helpful in instances of subacute disc herniation. https://europepmc.org/article/med/21125798
2- EXERCISE THERAPIES:
There are different types of exercise therapies that help in herniated disc or disc slip, and these are as follows:
Ø KNEE TO CHEST EXERCISE:
In this exercise, first, you have to lay supine on a plain surface, then bend your knee; after that, hold the back of your thigh and bring it closer to the chest for 15 seconds; you are supposed to feel the stretch over the back area, buttock region and back of your thigh. Then similarly switch to the other side and repeat the same movement. Repeat this exercise in 5 repetitions.
Ø HIP ROLLING EXERCISE:
Again, in this exercise, first lay supine on a plain surface, then bend both of your knees, second turn both your legs to one side and the head to the opposite side and hold it for 15 seconds. You are supposed to feel the stretch to the side of your waist. After that, go back to starting position and repeat it for the other side of the body.
Repeat this five times.
Ø HAMSTRING STRETCH EXERCISE:
In this exercise, lay supine on a plain surface, then first hold the back of your thigh and try to maintain your knee in a straight position for 15 seconds. Next, you are supposed to feel the stretch on the back of your thigh and hamstring muscles; after doing that, switch to the other side and do the same for 15 seconds.
Repeat it five times on each side.
Ø PRAYER STRETCH EXERCISE:
In this exercise, first, start with the kneeling position; then, by sitting on your knee, try to bend forward towards the floor as much as possible and maintain this position for 15 seconds. You are supposed to feel the stretch on your lower back muscles. After that, go back to starting position and do this in 5 repetitions.
Ø PELVIC BRIDGING EXERCISE:
In this exercise, first, bend your knees by lying supine on a plain surface, then make sure you tighten your buttock and stomach muscles as you lift your buttocks and maintain that position for 10 seconds. This one is to strengthen your back and hip muscles. After doing that, go back to the starting point and repeat this ten times.
Ø TRUNK EXTENSORS STRENGTHENING EXERCISE:
In this exercise, the position will be lying prone on the plain surface, then straighten your arms; after this, lift your upper and lower limbs together as much as you can and hold this position for 10 seconds. Then go to starting position and repeat this ten times.
Ø CAT AND CAMEL EXERCISE:
In this exercise, the position will be four paws kneeling; make sure your knees are at the same level as your hip and, similarly, your hands are at the same level as your shoulder. Then arch your back down and lookup. Hold it for 10 seconds. You feel stretch in your abdominal muscles.
After 10 seconds, round your back like a camel and look down; hold for 10 seconds, then go back to start and repeat this for ten times.
Ø SUPERMAN EXERCISE:
In this exercise, maintain the same position as in the cat and camel exercise by four paws kneeling, then lift your alternate upper and lower limb together and try to keep this for 10 seconds. Again, it helps stabilize your back muscles; after doing this, go back to the start and repeat this for the other side. Do this in 10 repetitions.
Ø If you feel excessive pain during any of this, don't push yourself hard, stop doing exercise, and consult your physio.
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