LOW BACK PAIN

What is low back pain?

Pain in the lower back can be very unpleasant and can affect our daily lives both at work and with leisure activities. It can affect 80% of the population at some stage in their life. Pain in the low back can often cause pain and other sensations into the hip or leg. The good news is a large percentage of low back pain resolves within a four week period.

What causes low back pain?

There are many factors that can cause low back pain. The back is made up of several tissues - discs, joints, nerves, ligaments and muscles - all of which can cause pain in the back. Often the pain can be brought on by postural related stress, sudden strains on the back such as bending or lifting, poor muscle control and movement around the back or by degenerative problems such as arthritis. The joint where your spine joins your pelvis (sacroiliac joint) can also be a source of low back pain.

Terms you may have heard for low back pain

Slipped disc
Slipped disc is a bit misleading - discs do not slip out of position. What can happen is the disc can be strained or it can prolapse. This can be a sudden onset of quite severe pain. If the disc prolapses in a certain direction the swelling and pressure around the disc can irritate the nerves coming from your spine and cause pain and other sensations into your leg.

Sciatica
Sciatica refers to pain originating from or caused by the sciatic nerve which runs from your spine all the way down the back of your leg.

Back strain
This can refer to a strain on any of the tissues around your back, including joints, muscles and ligaments.

How can physiotherapy help low back pain?

Research has shown physiotherapy to be effective for acute (recent onset) low back pain, and chronic low back pain. The physiotherapist will give you a detailed examination then determine and discuss with you the course of therapy which suits you. Treatment may consist of manual therapy (hands on therapy), a tailored exercise programme which targets specific muscles around the spine to ensure that your spine moves well and helps prevent recurrence of back pain. We will also discuss with you other factors that may contribute to the problem such as postural advice at work and home, advice on correct moving and lifting techniques and advice on sporting techniques if appropriate.

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