Physiotherapists in Stourbridge treat many different conditions including the issues profiled below.

Sudden Loads On Lumbar Discs

In experiments on lumbar spines from cadavers the commonest way a disc will fail is if it is placed in significant bending and compressed quickly is to form a prolapse at the rear of the disc. Prolapse occurred most easily in discs which had not degenerated but were between forty and fifty years old. It was not possible to make a very degenerated disc prolapse. The angle of bend or the compressive forces do not need to be excessive as if one of them is over the normal limits it can generate a prolapse. Prolapses mirrored what people say as they occurred with an audible popping sound and occurred suddenly.

Typically a complete split appeared in the rear part of the disc wall and through this fissure the internal nuclear material prolapsed. The prolapse either occurred at one corner of the back of the disc (a common finding in people with disc problems) or more centrally where the nearby ligament prevented it from moving out further. Disc prolapse occurs mostly in discs with some weakening of the disc wall fibres yet a reasonably good nucleus which can respond to the forces by generating high pressures. Degenerated discs did not prolapse on testing.

Physiotherapy and TENS

TENS or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is a technique of treatment used for pain conditions of various kinds. A small, battery powered device is used to generate the signals which pass down wires to electrodes which adhere to the patient.s skin, with the frequency of the signals and their duration and repetition rates all adjustable. Electrodes, with four at least being best, can be placed around the areas of pain or along the specific nerve tracts which relate to the pain condition in a trial and error manner until the best technique for the patient is found.

TENS works on the idea of sending signals down the main sensory nerves in the painful area and when these signals reach the spinal cord they act as inhibitory factors on the transmission of pain in the spinal cord. The effect is similar to rubbing the damaged area when we bump ourselves hard on something. It reduces the pain and if we stop we will feel the pain come flooding back. Around 30 percent of people find TENS helpful for a variety of pain conditions. TENS is also used in labour as a non-drug alternative for pain relief in childbirth.