[Physical therapy of idiopathic spinal disorders]

In Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation structural and functional disorders in the genesis of back pain are of great importance. From an epidemiological point of view this has great consequences. Active and passive forms of physical therapy are available. Assuming that the intradiscal pressure has an influence on the origin of back pain, the aim of physiotherapy has to be that any movement of the vertebral column has to be controlled with a minimum of muscular contraction. Passive forms of physical therapy like heat and cold, electrotherapy or mechanotherapy have a reflective reaction beside a physical effect. Sometimes a combination of active and passive forms are of benefit. Every treatment concept has to pay regard to the actuality of pain, the load of every day life and the physical and social situation of the patient. Last but not least one has to learn to cope with the pain.