Back Pain Physiotherapy in Ahmedabad

What is back pain?

Back pain is pain, stiffness or tension anywhere in the back, most often in the lower back. The World Health Organization calls low back pain the leading cause of disability worldwide. Most people will have it at some point in their life.

In most cases, doctors call it “non specific” back pain. This means the pain comes from the muscles, joints, ligaments and discs of the back working under strain, rather than from a serious disease or injury. It can feel very painful and worrying, but the back is a strong structure, and most episodes improve within a few weeks, especially when you keep moving.

Common causes include long sitting, poor lifting habits, weak core and hip muscles, sudden twisting, stress and poor sleep. In Ahmedabad, I often see back pain in people who ride a two wheeler daily on bumpy roads, office workers at laptops, and homemakers who bend over low kitchen counters or sit on the floor for long.

Who gets back pain

Back pain affects people of all ages. It is very common in:

• Office workers and students who sit for many hours
• Homemakers who lift, bend and squat often
• Drivers and two wheeler riders
• People who do heavy physical work
• Women during and after pregnancy
• Older adults with stiff joints or arthritis of the spine

Common signs of back pain

• A dull ache or sharp pain in the lower back
• Stiffness after sitting, especially when you stand up
• Pain that spreads to the buttock or the back of the thigh
• Muscle spasm that makes it hard to stand up straight
• Pain that gets better when you move and worse when you stay still

If pain travels below the knee with tingling or numbness, it may be sciatica, which I also treat.

How I help

My goal is to reduce your pain quickly, help you understand what is happening, and make your back stronger so it is less likely to come back.

• Assessment: I check your posture, movement, strength, nerves and the joints of your back and hips to find the main cause.
• Pain relief: hands on therapy, gentle mobilisation, heat and, if useful, TENS.
• Exercise: guided exercises to strengthen your core, hips and back muscles, and improve flexibility. NICE guidelines recommend exercise as a key treatment for low back pain.
• Movement confidence: many people become afraid to bend or lift. I help you move normally again, step by step.
• Daily habits: sitting set up for work, safe lifting at home, sleeping positions and tips for two wheeler riding.

Your first session

Bring any reports you have and wear loose clothing. I will ask about when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, and your work and daily routine. I will check your movement and test the nerves to your legs. Then I explain the likely cause, start treatment, and teach you two or three exercises for home.

How many sessions you may need

Recent back pain often improves within 4 to 6 sessions. Pain that has lasted for months may need 6 to 10 sessions, along with regular home exercise. The aim is for you to manage your back on your own with a simple routine.