How Assisted Stretching Can Help with Chronic Back Pain

Back pain is unfortunately common for adults of all ages. In many cases, the pain is circumstantial, from falling asleep on an uncomfortable couch to sitting at a desk for several hours each day. However, for a certain percentage of the population, the back pain doesn't seem to go away. 

Because of this, it’s no surprise that they would try to find ways to relieve the constant pain they feel on their back. And one of the most effective methods to deal with chronic back pain is through assisted stretching.

What Causes Chronic Back Pain?

First, let’s discuss what causes chronic back pain in the first place. There are a lot of causes for chronic back pain, some of which are temporary while others are permanent. Temporary causes of back pain include muscle strain, sore muscles and soft tissue injuries. Permanent causes of chronic back pain include wear and tear, spinal disc disease and degenerative disc disease.

How Can Assisted Stretching Help With Chronic Back Pain?

While patients suffering from chronic back pain should always consult with a medical professional, it is also necessary to find ways to manage the pain and discomfort. Often, back pain is caused by tight muscles because of prolonged sedentary activity or prolonged physical activity.

As a result, patients should find ways to relax and stretch those tight muscles. However, this can be difficult for people suffering from chronic back pain, especially for the elderly and healthy individuals who have not previously stretched.

This is where assisted stretching comes in. Assisted stretching can be very effective for people who have difficulty stretching because of chronic back pain or age. It can also be a great way to increase flexibility, which is easier for people with existing back injuries, rather than stretching and keeping these tight muscles strong.

How to Learn to Perform Assisted Stretching

Assisted stretching is a little more complicated than regular stretching. But the basics are still the same. The patient should be in a comfortable position with a lot of room to move. The assistant then performs the motion for the patient at different angles and assists them in keeping the body in that angle. This process takes time and a lot of tries until the patient is able to move into that angle on their own.

It is usually easier to perform assisted stretching on the floor so the patient can use their hands and feet to push themselves into the correct position. However, the real goal is to get the patient to the point where they can do assisted stretching themselves, so they are not at risk of re-injuring themselves.

Final Thoughts

Chronic back pain can make it difficult for an individual to enjoy their freedom and participate in physical activity. In order to alleviate the pain, it is always best to talk to a medical professional and try various methods of pain relief. Assisted stretching, in particular, is one such method that can effectively alleviate some symptoms of chronic back pain.

Relieve pain and improve flexibility with the help of Stretch Studio in Sydney. We are Australia’s first one-on-one assisted stretching service. At Stretch Studio, we aim to help you move, feel and train better. Book a stretch now!