Physical therapy plays a major role in treating the herniated disk. It will give immediate pain relief and also teach you how to maintain your body to prevent injury.
The goal of this treatment is to improve flexibility, strength and endurance to allow you to engage in normal activities. Exercises prescribed by the physical therapist can also be helpful for you to relieve from the pressure on your nerves, and reduce the symptoms of weakness and pain. This program may also include aerobic exercise to improve circulation and build endurance and stretching exercises to develop the flexibility of muscles. Other exercises may also helpful in strengthening the muscles of your abdomen, legs, and back.
There are several physical therapy techniques available which relax your body, which includes cold and hot therapy, deep tissue massage, hydrotherapy, and electrical stimulation.
Mostly this type of treatment will begin with passive treatment. Once the body heals, you can start with active treatments, which will strengthen your body and avoid further pain. This physical therapy treatment includes:
Passive treatments:
Cold and hot therapy: Both cold and hot therapies would offer their individual benefits, your physical therapist can suggest any one of them, which is best for you. Heat therapy is used to increase the flow of the blood at the affected area. This blood would deliver extra nutrients and oxygen, which helps to heal the affected area. Blood collects the waste byproducts from muscles. Conversely, Cold therapy is used to slow down the blood circulation that reduces the inflammation, pain and muscle spasms.
Deep tissue massage: More than 100 kinds of massages are available, but deep tissue massage is considered as the best treatment option for the people who are suffering from herniated disc. Because in this technique, a great deal of pressure will be used to relieve from deep muscle spasm and tensions that develop to avoid motion of muscles at the affected area.
Hydrotherapy: This therapy would involve water. This is a passive treatment, so this involves simply sitting in a pool of water or warm shower. This would give relaxation to the muscles and relieve pain.
Active treatments:
These treatments help address posture, flexibility, core stability, joint movement and strength. An exercise program might be prescribed to achieve the best results. This will not only reduce recurrent pain but it also benefits to your overall health. Based on your health history and specific diagnosis, your physical therapist would work with you to improve a program.
Flexibility: Learning flexibility and stretching techniques may prepare you for strength and aerobic exercises. Flexibility can remove the stiffness of the body and it helps your body to move easily.
Core stability: Your abdominal muscles would help your back muscles to support your spine. If your abdominal muscles are weak, then it will put an extra pressure on back muscles. In the process of strengthening your back, the physical therapist may suggest you physical therapy.