Discover the secret of Physioactif: where physiotherapy transforms.

The Physioactif approach combines exercises, explanations, and treatments tailored to your condition. Your physical therapist selects the methods that will help you move and resume your activities.

For recent back pain with no specific cause, the advice to stay active is slightly more helpful than bed rest. This benefit applies to both pain relief and a return to normal activities.¹

Your plan takes into account your pain, your movements, and the activities that are important to you.

Your physical therapist also helps you find ways to manage your condition on a daily basis.

These goals guide your choice of exercises, advice, and treatments.

How does Physioactif support your recovery?

Physioactif supports your recovery by helping you adjust your lifestyle, explaining how pain works, and improving your range of motion.

Adjust Your Lifestyle Habits

• Your physical therapist can help you adjust your habits to suit your needs. For recent back pain, they may suggest spreading out your activities throughout the day and alternating periods of activity with breaks.² You’ll discuss your progress together based on your tolerance. These adjustments are designed to make your activities easier and give you the tools to manage your condition.

Understanding the Role of the Nervous System in Pain

• The nervous system can become more sensitive after repeated stimulation of the pathways that detect threats to tissues. A touch or movement that was previously well tolerated may then become painful.³ Your physical therapist will assess your symptoms and your tolerance for movement. This sensitivity is one possible explanation; it does not account for all cases of pain.
• Your physical therapist explains how the body and the nervous system contribute to pain.⁴ For persistent lower back pain, these explanations are used in conjunction with other treatments, such as exercises.²

Improve your agility and coordination

• Your physical therapist tailors the exercises to the way you move. For example, you might practice getting up from a chair or climbing a step. The therapist adjusts the support, height, or number of repetitions based on your needs. The progression takes into account your responses and your goals.

Find positions that are comfortable for you

• A so-called “ideal” posture isn’t right for everyone. What’s comfortable varies from person to person, and a one-size-fits-all model can lead people to believe there’s a problem when there isn’t one.⁵ Your physical therapist will help you try out postures tailored to your activities and comfort level. Your feedback will guide any adjustments.

What techniques does Physioactif use?

The physical therapists at Physioactif use exercises, nerve mobilization, and—depending on your needs—mental imagery of movements. Your evaluation guides the selection of these approaches.

Improving Nerve Tolerance to Movement

Nerve mobilization techniques involve precise, gradual movements. The physical therapist adjusts the intensity of these movements based on your symptoms.

For lower back pain accompanied by nerve root pain, these mobilization techniques can provide short-term relief. They can help alleviate pain and improve daily functioning when used in conjunction with other treatments.⁶ However, in a review of carpal tunnel syndrome, they did not improve most clinical outcomes.⁷

• Our team also provides training on this approach to other physical therapists.

Build muscle strength and control

• Your physical therapist can help you build strength, coordination, and muscle control. They will select exercises based on your assessment. For persistent back pain with no specific cause, movement control exercises produce results similar to other forms of exercise. Your preferences therefore play a role in choosing the right program.⁸

Preparing a Movement Through Visualization

• Visualization involves imagining a movement without actually performing it. It activates certain regions of the brain that are also involved in actual movement.⁹ Your physical therapist may suggest this step to help you prepare for a difficult or dreaded movement. It supports the resumption of movement; however, brain activation alone does not guarantee pain relief.

Why should you trust the science and experts at Physioactif?

The Physioactif team applies research findings to your specific condition and shares its knowledge through education. Your physical therapist also takes your goals and preferences into account.

Your physical therapist will explain the expected benefits and limitations of the recommended treatments. This will allow you to be an active participant in the decision-making process.

The relationship with your physical therapist is also part of your care. For persistent muscle and joint pain, effective collaboration can help provide relief.¹⁰ Patients and physical therapists describe, in particular, active listening, clear explanations, and tailoring care to the patient’s needs as important elements of this relationship.¹¹

Our team includes physical therapists who teach at the university, conduct training sessions, and give presentations.

These exchanges allow our physical therapists to share their knowledge with other professionals.

At the clinic, your physical therapist uses their expertise to provide you with care tailored to your daily life.

Discover the Physioactif approach.

References

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1. Hagen KB, Jamtvedt G, Hilde G, Winnem MF. The updated Cochrane review of bed rest for low back pain and sciatica. Spine (Phila, Pa, 1976). 2005;30(5):542-6. (Back to section: 1)
2. George SZ, Fritz JM, Silfies SP, Schneider MJ, Beneciuk JM, Lentz TA, et al. Interventions for the Management of Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain: 2021 Revision. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2021;51(11):CPG1-CPG60. (Back to sections: 1, 2)
3. Woolf CJ. Central sensitization: implications for the diagnosis and treatment of pain. Pain. 2011;152(3 Suppl):S2-S15. (Back to section: 1)
4. Louw A, Zimney K, Puentedura EJ, Diener I. The efficacy of pain neuroscience education on musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review of the literature. Physiother Theory Pract. 2016;32(5):332-55. (Back to section: 1)
5. Barra-López ME. The standard posture is a myth: a scoping review. J Rehabil Med. 2024;56:jrm41899. (Back to section: 1)
6. Peacock M, Douglas S, Nair P. Neural mobilization in low back and radicular pain: a systematic review. J Man Manip Ther. 2023;31(1):4-12. (Back to section: 1)
7. Basson A, Olivier B, Ellis R, Coppieters M, Stewart A, Mudzi W. The Effectiveness of Neural Mobilization for Neuromusculoskeletal Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017;47(9):593-615. (Back to section 1)
8. Saragiotto BT, Maher CG, Yamato TP, Costa LO, Menezes Costa LC, Ostelo RW, et al. Motor control exercise for chronic nonspecific low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;2016(1):CD012004. (Back to section: 1)
9. Hardwick RM, Caspers S, Eickhoff SB, Swinnen SP. Neural correlates of action: Comparing meta-analyses of imagery, observation, and execution. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2018;94:31-44. (Back to section: 1)
10. Kinney M, Seider J, Beaty AF, Coughlin K, Dyal M, Clewley D. The impact of therapeutic alliance in physical therapy for chronic musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review of the literature. Physiother Theory Pract. 2020;36(8):886-898. (Back to section: 1)
11. O'Keeffe M, Cullinane P, Hurley J, Leahy I, Bunzli S, O'Sullivan PB, et al. What Influences Patient-Therapist Interactions in Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy? Qualitative Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis. Phys Ther. 2016;96(5):609-22. (Back to section: 1)