Our back is the fulcrum of our body’s movement. Too often we use it inadequately and do not pay enough attention to it, as we would do with a very expensive car which in truth is the only one we will ever own. These inattentions, negligence, and repeated incorrect movements are the cause of back pain and if not eliminated they determine the degeneration of the structure and the progressive limitation of the possibility of moving. Many times we then think about surgery, which is clearly not a resolution but an extreme attempt at a remedy.
Back pain usually occurs in repeated episodes and it is often thought that by taming the pain with the use of painkillers one can return to normal life, without wondering why the back pain started or reappeared. Without understanding what the injuring mechanisms and movements are, without removing these factors from our habits, back pain will strike again.
The aim of the Atlas is to remove pain first and foremost, but it is also to instruct your patient on how to maintain and increase their health so that they can regain the full functionality of their body.
VISIT
The medical system is woefully inadequate in managing back pain. Most patients are not prescribed the most important strategy for getting rid of back pain. This strategy lies in the knowledge and understanding of one’s condition, which are necessary to become the best guide of oneself. Patients typically receive a 10- to 15-minute visit which is simply not enough time to diagnose the cause of back pain.
The person is left frustrated and without a clear idea, left without any answers as to what movements/behaviors should be eliminated to decrease the cause of their back pain. He receives no guidance on what is needed to build the foundation of pain-free movement.
At our center we provide a detailed evaluation, which very often lasts 3 hours, this is because we realize that the back represents the fulcrum of all movements of the human body.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM
In the first part of the visit, all the provoking agents will be identified, including the postures, movements, stresses, and loads that cause the pain. All specific anatomical parts that have suffered damage will also be identified.
This meticulous investigation leads us to have a complete picture that guides us in instructing patients to move correctly and avoid those movements responsible for creating the problem and to then build a specific exercise program, different for each person, which makes the patient stronger and more resilient so as not to have relapses.
MAKE THE PATIENT AWARE
Making the patient more aware by virtue of a deeper understanding of their body, of which movements are incorrect and which ones cause back pain is fundamental.
Using the knowledge gained from the assessment, patients will be able to:
- Remove the causes that trigger the pain;
- Create the foundation for pain-free movement. The goal is to identify and follow an approach that is effective for them and their unique causes of back pain.
TREATMENT PHASE
Once all the anatomical parts involved and all the provoking agents have been found and the patient has been made aware of his deficits, it will be necessary to implement a treatment program that includes:
- Manual treatment to remove part of the painful symptoms.
- Removal of triggers from the movements of daily living activities, through the practice of spinal hygiene (every person is different and our center provides specific instructions for each category of pain).
- Teaching of alternative movement techniques to usual movements, to carry out daily life gestures appropriately and without exacerbating back pain.
- Construction of an exercise program for spinal stability and appropriate mobility of the hips and shoulders.
- Building a better walking technique and a daily walking program, which in the first period is a crucial factor in resolving back pain.