Welcome to Coastal Clinics

Our goal is the promotion of wellness, increased patient functioning and quality of life.

Back Pain

There are actually many different types of “low back pain” with many potential sources of pain in the spine. These include:

  • Intervertebral discs
  • Nerve roots
  • Zygapophyseal joints (also called facet joints)
  • Sacro-iliac joint
  • Other structures (including muscles and ligaments)

Disc herniation (with nerve root compromise)

Significant herniation of the disc will cause radicular pain, which is commonly referred to as “sciatica”. This is caused by disc material compressing the nerves that pass close by on their way down to the leg.

In terms of treatment some patients will actually improve by themselves, or with simple pain killers, within six weeks. If not, then many may respond well to physiotherapy intervention. This may include manual therapy, very specific exercises designed to counter the strain in the back, conditioning work, electrotherapy or taping of the spine.

Spinal stenosis

The pathophysiology of stenosis is not well understood but it is thought to be due to mechanical pressure on the spinal nerve roots. This in turn compromises the arterial blood flow to the nerve roots causing a variety of lower limb symptoms including pain, numbness and tingling.

Physiotherapy will initially be geared towards mobilising the spinal segments that are compressing the problematic nerve area. After reducing this compression on the nerves, therapy will then shift towards lifestyle changes that can help minimise the effects of stenotic pain.

Low back pain (LBP)

Low back pain (LBP) is incredibly common within the UK workforce. Approximately 20% of the UK population will visit a GP for pain relief for this. LBP can be more central in area and confined to the lower back region, compared to the other types of back pain, with no real radiation down the legs.

Physiotherapy with manual therapy and structured exercise programs can be useful in alleviating these symptoms.