Back rehabilitation

What is it?

The back and neck programme is available for patients with chronic lower back or neck pain. Patients who have undergone back or neck surgery can join the programme too. The programme consists of a theoretical component about the anatomy and ergonomics of the spinal column, which supplements a practical approach that provides insight into ergonomic positions and postures.

It is clear from the literature that theoretical education alone is insufficient to achieve a (long-term) effect. That is why we provide individual treatments where a physical therapist tackles limited range of movement and motor control. Individual or group exercise and exercise therapy bring added value to the rehabilitation of back and neck patients. The objective is to achieve progressive development towards an active life style despite back pain, and/or starting/resuming of sport activities.

Treatment procedure

Schematic overview of the treatment plan

Consultation rehabilitation physician: first time

Before starting back rehabilitation, you will consult a rehabilitation physician who, together with you, determines the trajectory and monitors it. The rehabilitation physician communicates with the GP, the advising clinician of the insurance fund and potentially the occupational health physician. In addition, the physician also takes care of administrative matters relating to reimbursement.

Intake interview and multidisciplinary meeting

At a subsequent occasion, an intake interview is conducted by a physical therapist and occupational therapist. The physical therapist takes a history (i.e. a conversation about your medical history) and examines you. On the other hand, the occupational therapist focuses on problems that present themselves in daily activities. This is followed by a multidisciplinary meeting that is also attended by the rehabilitation physician and the psychologist. Your individual programme and objectives are drawn up jointly by the different disciplines.

Education

To know your own body and treat it with respect, it is important to obtain insight into the anatomy of your spinal column. When you keep your body’s anatomy in mind, many tips in relation to lying down, sitting and standing will appear obvious. It is also of importance to learn to lift and lower objects. Each class will be about one subject and will offer the opportunity to try out ergonomic back and neck tools. In the lesson on 'pain', we look at the pain mechanism and how our body reacts to it.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is individual outpatient rehabilitation. Patients are seen by the department after being referred by the GP, specialist or rehabilitation physician. They determine the required frequency and the number of treatments. Manual therapy is supplemented by specific exercises and exercises at home. On the basis of the patient interview and examination, an individual treatment plan is drawn up and treatment is started according to personal objectives.

Core 1 and 2

Individual treatment is followed by group sessions, which focus on the following:

Optimising mobility: building up mobility exercises, exercises to relearn confidence to move.
Optimising stability: building up stability exercises: making exercises more difficult by increasing instability of the base or by carrying out exercises with one arm or leg. Repetitions and duration are also increased further.
Improving functionality: doing the exercises in a more functional position.
Increasing fitness: fitness is increased further on cardio machines.

Consultation rehabilitation physician: second and third time

A whole trajectory including individual and group sessions has already been followed. To ensure good follow-up, you will visit the rehabilitation physician after three and six months.

Completion

After core 1 and 2, patients are moved up to an advanced group. This is a once-weekly training programme on Wednesday or Saturday mornings. You may follow this programme up to one year after starting (the time of your intake interview).

Exercises

The exercises shown below have various objectives. These can have a mobilizing, stretching and stabilizing effect. In addition, some muscle strengthening exercises for the legs have been prepared as it is important to have well-developed leg muscles to carry out the ergonomic tips properly. The exercises are divided into three different levels. Depending on your level, your therapist will teach you the right exercises. We advise to only perform the exercises that have been taught by the therapist. We are not responsible for physical complaints if you perform the exercises on your own.

Ergonomic tips

It is important to treat your back in a sensible way. With some preventive measures, the strain on the back decreases and increases comfort, health and the effectiveness of your work. Through the links below, you can review our tips to reduce or prevent back problems.

Healthy Back PowerPoint

Only available in Dutch:

Les 1: anatomie

Download

Only available in Dutch:

Les 4: staan

Download

Only available in Dutch:

Les 2: liggen

Download

Only available in Dutch:

Les 5: heffen en tillen

Download

Only available in Dutch:

Les 3: zitten

Download

How do I register?

You can register by contacting the secretariat of the Rehabilitation Centre by telephone:

Rehabilitation Centre secretariat

Tel. +32 (0)9 246 85 00

The secretariat can be reached by phone:

Monday to Thursday 8am to 12pm and 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Friday from 8am to 12 noon and 1.30 to 4.30pm

If you are unable to attend the therapy (core stability 1 and 2) for any reason, please let us know at least 24 hours in advance by telephone on 09 246 99 02.