How Physiotherapy Care Can Help Treat Pinched Nerves

Throughout the human body, nerves process information and trigger reactions. Nerves ensure we reduce harm to our bodies and help us move.

If you’ve pinched a nerve, the resulting pain can be significant. For pinched nerve relief in Victoria, BC, you’ll want to consider consulting an experienced physiotherapist.

After an initial examination, your physiotherapist will explain your treatment options. While each patient is unique and may benefit from different forms of treatment, we’ll look at five ways physiotherapy can help.

1. Manual Therapeutic Techniques

Manual therapeutic techniques include soft tissue massages, stretching, and joint mobilization for pinched nerves in the neck and back.

Stretches and massages help to improve flexibility and reduce symptoms. Common pinched nerve symptoms include numbness and tingling, pain, muscle spasms, and muscle weakness.

With joint mobilization, physical therapists reduce the pressure in patients’ spines by pulling the vertebrae apart, which also increases blood flow.

2. Therapeutic Exercise

Therapeutic exercise involves stretches and strengthening exercises. Not only does this reduce stress on the pinched nerve, but it improves mobility.

Common therapeutic exercises include trapezius stretches, posterior stretched, chin tucks, head turns, and shoulder rolls and shrugs.

It’s important to remember that the ultimate goal of therapy is different for every patient. The extent of the injury and a patient’s health status and age will play a role in determining what a reasonable recovery looks like.

3. Neuromuscular Re-Education

Neuromuscular re-education can help improve posture, body mechanics, and stability. This type of treatment is best at protecting injuries.

Patients undergoing neuromuscular re-education may be given activities for balance and control. There are also manual techniques like PNF, which stands for proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation.

4. Other Pinched Nerve Modalities

Examples of other modalities include e-stim, ultrasound, cold laser, traction, and ice.

The best treatment for your pinched nerve can come down to the cause of the injury. A pinched nerve happens when too much pressure is applied to the tissue that surrounds the nerve.

Common causes of a pinched nerve include stress from repetitive work, arthritis, sports, and obesity.

5. Home Programs

Most pinched nerve treatment should occur with a physiotherapist present. But, you’ll benefit from having a home program. This will help you establish daily tasks to improve your function even faster.

You will likely be given specific stretches and exercises to complete. You’ll learn how to do them and know how many reps and sets you need to reach your mobility goals. In addition to that, your doctor may recommend rest and over-the-counter pain relievers.

It’s important to make sure you fully understand the home program your physiotherapist establishes for you. They will work with you and have you practice your home routine, so you don’t risk injuring yourself when you’re not being treated in the office.

Schedule Physiotherapy for Pinched Nerves

Now that you’re aware of the more common pinched nerve treatments, you’ll be more informed when it comes to making decisions about and for your health and wellbeing.