Back Pain Recovery: 5 Important Care Tips

Back pain is a daily challenge for many people, potentially affecting mobility, the ability to carry out simple tasks and quality of life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, highlighting the scale of this health issue.

According to Professor Dr Laudelino Risso, a physiotherapist and osteopath at the Doutor Hérnia clinic network, conditions affecting the spine may involve different body systems and be linked to changes in movement patterns, loss of muscle strength, excessive loading and functional imbalances.

“Vertebral disc disorders are multisystemic in nature. We cannot look only at the disc or the skeletal system. It is necessary to assess movement patterns, musculature, posture and other factors that affect the body’s balance,” he explains.

Recently, the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) regulated the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for certain specific musculoskeletal conditions, including lumbar disc disease. The technique uses a concentration of platelets taken from the patient’s own blood and is being studied for its potential to support tissue repair.

The measure broadens therapeutic options, but easing pain or treating an injured structure does not necessarily mean that every factor associated with the condition has been addressed. Recovery must also take account of factors that may continue to overload the spine. Below, the specialist outlines 5 important points of care during this process.

1. Do not mistake pain improvement for recovery

A reduction in pain is an important outcome, but it does not automatically mean spinal function has been fully restored. A patient may experience an improvement in symptoms while still having altered movement, muscle weakness or compensatory patterns that encourage overloading. “Rehabilitation helps identify these factors and address them so that the body can return to its activities with greater stability and better-quality movement,” the physiotherapist explains.

2. Restore movement patterns

Pain and physical restrictions can change how a person moves. Over time, the body may develop compensations to avoid certain movements or reduce discomfort. According to Professor Dr Laudelino Risso, it is important to restore the axes of movement and correct changes that may still be affecting the way the spine functions. Physiotherapy plays an important part in functional recovery during this process.

3. Strengthen the muscles

Muscle strengthening is another key element of rehabilitation. Muscles contribute to spinal stability and must be ready to manage the loads and movements involved in everyday life. This work should account for each patient’s individual needs and limitations, aiming not only to increase strength but also to improve stability and movement control.

4. Do not return to the same habits once the pain has gone

One of the main mistakes is to see the disappearance or reduction of pain as proof that the issue has been completely resolved, then simply resume the same routine without correcting the factors that contributed to the condition. “If the primary problem remains weakened in the patient’s body, the treated disc may undergo new changes again,” the physiotherapist warns. Preventing further episodes therefore also involves identifying excessive loads and changing habits that may harm the spine.

5. Care for the body as an integrated whole

Recovery does not depend solely on the structure where the problem occurred. Physical conditioning, diet, body-weight management, musculature and lifestyle can also influence the patient’s progress.

For Professor Dr Laudelino Risso, the approach should seek balance between different systems. “The best treatment is to identify weaknesses in the systems and enable primary balances to take place, respecting the lines of communication between the spinal column, the muscular system, the nervous system and disc functions as well,” he explains.

Recovery goes beyond pain relief

New therapeutic resources represent important advances and may form part of the care provided to certain patients. However, spinal recovery does not end when pain subsides. “The aim is to help the body return to balance. That is why strengthening, physiotherapy and changes that address the conditions contributing to the problem remain essential,” the specialist concludes.

By Renata Sbrissa