Low back pain is incredibly common; in fact it's the most common musculoskeletal issue worldwide. Whilst low back pain can be disabling and painful at its worst, it is usually not serious in nature and generally people recover quite quickly.
Most instances of lower back pain can be thought of as simple strains or sprains of the muscles or joints in the lower back, or from simply placing too much load on these tissues for prolonged periods of time. These instances of lower back pain usually do not require special investigations such as X-ray’s, CT or MRI scans, which can be costly, time consuming, unnecessary and even harmful to recovery by creating fear and poor beliefs about the injury.
Occasionally more significant injuries can occur, or conditions that require specific treatment or investigations. These conditions can include fractures, infection or compression of nerves. The good news is these specific conditions occur far less frequently, and often have tell-tale signs that are easy for a well trained physiotherapist to recognise and then manage appropriately.
How do we treat low back pain?
In the early stages of low back pain the best treatment includes education about the condition, advice to continue gentle activity, the use of heat, hands on treatment, and occasionally exercise. More persistent pain tends to respond best to exercise and treatment addressing thoughts and behaviours such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, with a role for hands on treatment. Treatment should always be tailored to be as specific as possible to each individual’s needs. There may be some benefit from the use of anti-inflammatories in acute and persistent low back pain, however these come with their own risks that should be discussed with a medical professional. Stronger prescription medication including opiods should only be used with caution.
Prevention of low back pain
Whilst the majority of low back pain improves quite quickly, it is common for low back pain to recur or become persistent. There are certain risk factors that can increase these chances of recurrence such as lifestyle factors, poor muscular control or strength, or a lack of flexibility. If we can address these factors then hopefully we can reduce the likelihood of recurrent low back pain. It is always best to prevent pain or injury rather than to treat it. Our physiotherapists are trained to identify these risk factors and how best to address them to keep people living happy and healthy lifestyles.
Kent Jordan, Physiotherapist at Back In Motion Valley View
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