Professional Physiotherapy for a Slipped Disk
What Is A Slipped Disc?
A slipped disc is known in the medical field as a prolapse, protrusion, or a herniated disk. It can occur when a part of the disc between our vertebrae breaks out and contacts the nerves or spinal cord. When this happens, it is advised that you immediately seek physiotherapy for a slipped disc.
The sooner you receive professional help, the faster you will recover and less pain you will experience as a result. With our high-quality physio services at Hands On Osteopathy and Physiotherapy, we can help you to recover, ensuring that long term damage is kept to a minimum.
What Can Cause A Slipped Disc?
The disks on our vertebrae are made up of strong connective tissues. These work as shock absorbers in the spine and also allow our day to day movement. Each one of our discs is made up of a tough outer layer which helps to protect a soft centre . Should this area become damaged, smaller tears may form which will cause the inner substances to leak out of the disk, causing contact with our nerves and spinal cord. This commonly occurs in individuals between the ages of 30 and 50 and is also more likely to impact men than women.
As we grow older, our disks become more dehydrated. This makes them more prone to tearing and therefore slipped discs are more common in older individuals. There are also a number of additional factors that can impact the likelihood of developing a slipped disk. This includes the heavy lifting of items, sitting down for long periods of time and being overweight.
What Symptoms Will You Display With A Slipped Disk?
Symptoms will differ depending on the extremity of the issue. If a small part of the disk bulges outwards, you may show only minor, if any symptoms. However, in extreme cases, a slipped disc can cause a problem known as sciatica. It is named after the longest nerve in the body, the sciatic nerve, which runs through the buttocks to the bottom of the feet.
Any irritation to the nerve can cause everything from pain and numbness to pins and needles in the legs. Over time, this can cause weakness in the muscles that are supplied by the sciatic nerve, which can result in a wide array of additional problems.
When To Get Physiotherapy For a Slipped Disc
Physiotherapy for a slipped disc should start straight away. It may include everything from lighter cardiovascular exercises such as cycling and hydrotherapy. In order to give you the best results, we will create a personalized exercise program that will cover strengthening, range of movement and posture exercises to ensure the best possible recovery.
